Illustration: Sarah Kilcoyne
Mel Ottenberg, stylist and editor-in-chief of Interview journal, takes consuming and merriment significantly. How may he not? Having fun with meals with family members was a price instilled early on — his father was a fourth-generation proprietor at Ottenberg’s Bakery, their household enterprise in Washington D.C., however now he’s attempting (and infrequently failing) to maintain a balanced weight loss plan whereas navigating his busy schedule. Ottenberg was previously Rihanna’s longtime stylist and has labored with many different artists, together with Chloë Sevigny and Troye Sivan. He began at Interview as inventive director, and even now as EIC, he usually kinds cowl shoots, together with the latest one with Sabrina Carpenter. He’s by no means giving up on desirous to strive new eating places within the metropolis, however for now, he’s at Citarella lots. “Jewish carbs are in my blood,” Ottenberg says. “However I’m at all times preventing it as a result of I don’t need to be a comfortable, middle-aged Jewish man both.” It’s a small rebuke, at the very least in his rule guide. “The best way I see it’s that I prefer to eat very well until I don’t really feel prefer it,” he provides. “I’m at all times all the way down to cheat.”
Monday, October 20
I get up at 6:30, and I begin issues off with 5 strawberries and a cup of Citarella’s New York Mix espresso. All people has some fancy, cunt-y espresso setup, however I take advantage of a Cuisinart drip espresso maker. It’s the kind of espresso maker my mother and stepfather have. I used to have a French press, however I by no means had a timer, so I’d go away it for quarter-hour and be like, “Whoops.” The Cuisinart is tried and true, and if it’s ok for my mother, it’s ok for me. And the espresso’s fairly good, particularly now that the man that I’m courting taught me the right way to really measure espresso to water. I used to be eyeballing it earlier than. I don’t know what was happening, however typically it was actually, actually dangerous and typically it was good. Now, simply earlier than turning 50, I’ve found out the right way to do it. I’ve one other cup at 6:45.
I’ve a 9 a.m. dermatologist appointment, and after that, I stroll a bit bit uptown to Three Guys, as a result of I like Three Guys. There, I’ve one other cup of espresso and an omelette with mushrooms, peppers, and onion with some turkey bacon. I don’t actually like turkey bacon, however I’m attempting to combine it up. The survey says “no.” However I do love an omelette.
I head to the workplace, and I work till a 1:15 p.m. lunch date with the competitors at Frenchette, the place I’ve 1 / 4 rotisserie hen and a facet salad. The opposite editor-in-chief and I’ve enjoyable, and he pays.
I eat loads of rotisserie hen. I’ve at all times been into it as a result of (a) it tastes good and (b) it’s prompt. It’s in every single place, and it feels comparatively wholesome but additionally satisfying. It’s a Whole30 staple, too. I’ve been doing Whole30 since August, however just lately I had a short relapse. I went to Basta Pasta and had a few of all the things, and the night time after I had an impromptu romantic dinner date at Congee Village. I actually do like understanding and having main power, however I additionally prefer to deal with myself. I don’t suppose I’m that shrill about it. I’m a Taurus. Life’s too quick to not get pleasure from it and have some bread typically.
After lunch, I’m going again to the workplace. There’s a brand new chain sensation known as Nuts Manufacturing unit that I typically order from, and round 4 p.m., I get unsalted almonds and means too many figs delivered to me. After consuming an excessive amount of of it, I share them with my group as we work. I want them to take it away from me.
At 5:45, after coming house, I snack on some rotisserie hen from Citarella. Shout-out to Citarella rotisserie hen for being actually good — and proper by me. I don’t know if there might be meals at a party I’m going to later, so I eat extra rotisserie hen and a Bubbies kosher dill pickle earlier than leaving.
The social gathering is at an residence in Bushwick. It’s cute! I run into some individuals, and there is meals, so I’ve two grilled hen skewers.
Tuesday, October 21
I get up and have black espresso round 7 a.m. Within the mornings, I prefer to get the paper, learn a few articles within the New York Instances, and attempt to keep away from social media. I additionally attempt to meditate typically however not very efficiently. I like to maneuver by way of the best hits of my coffee-mug assortment, which is fairly good. A few of my mugs are humorous, some are glamorous, and a few have sentimental worth. I’ve a pair of attractive Putin mugs that I obtained in Moscow, that are standouts.
For breakfast, I head over to the Waverly Diner. One other black espresso with an omelette with peppers, mushrooms, and onions. On the facet, I’ve avocado and bacon (this time, common). Afterward, I’m going to the workplace and work by way of lunch.
At 2 p.m., I order a basic workplace meal from the Smile: a half rotisserie hen, roasted potatoes, and kale. Later, I snack on three sticks of celery from Citarella with As soon as Once more roasted chunky almond butter from the health-food retailer Lifetime, earlier than seeing “A Dialog With Larry David” on the Beacon Theatre with a pal. We’re having dinner afterward, however my pal needs a snack earlier than we go in. I get a small bag of very massive grapes from a spot throughout the road. They’re actually good: agency and large in a futuristic means.
On the present, Larry David’s superb. Even him simply chatting about his profession is a pleasure. And it’s an viewers of people who love him, myself included. At one level, Larry mentions Cheryl Hines. Some individuals clap after which there’s a wave of murmurs by way of the room. A spotlight of the night time.
After the present, we’ve dinner at Dame. My pal and I share a selection: the grilled oysters with inexperienced chartreuse hollandaise, the squid and scallion skewers, poached leeks with gribiche and cantabrian anchovies, the grilled cabbage, white smoked mussels, and horseradish, and the kedgeree rice with curried crab. I’ve by no means been, and it’s fairly good.
I come house and finish the night time by beginning Gosford Park whereas consuming strawberries.
Wednesday, October 22
I begin the morning at 7:30 with fruit and black espresso, as per typical, besides that at this time, I take advantage of new espresso I purchased at Lifetime. It’s dangerous, and I gained’t be having it once more — however I nonetheless have two cups. I even have raspberries from Citarella, an apple from the farmers’ market, and a little bit of almond butter.
I do business from home within the morning and have some Zooms and whatnot. At 11:15, I throw collectively three scrambled eggs with arugula, capers, salt and pepper, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. I don’t have a lot within the fridge, and I simply use what I’ve earlier than going to the workplace.
On the workplace, I select a inexperienced apple from the Connoisseur Storage close by and peel it earlier than consuming. Three years in the past, I felt actually, actually sick and stored being actually sick. After being an enormous apple eater my complete life, I had abruptly develop into allergic to apple peels. It is likely one of the weirdest issues that has ever occurred to me.
I’ve an evening off tonight. I used to be planning to show off my telephone and watch a film, however I find yourself working at house. Round 8:45, I order certainly one of my favourite mellow meals, which is from Souen. There was three Souens, and now there’s just one. I get the Mel Ottenberg staple: Jappa soup, their three-mushrooms appetizer, and chilly apple-lemon kukicha tea. It’s a white-fish soup with greens and broth that I discover very comforting.
Later within the night, I do find yourself watching a bit extra of Gosford Park and go to mattress early in order that I could be as much as work out within the morning.
Thursday, October 23
I’ve a cup of espresso and a few raspberries earlier than hopping over to the gymnasium as deliberate. Afterward, I reply emails over a handful of blueberries and a lukewarm cup of espresso from that very same pot as earlier.
At 9:15, I meet a pal who’s visiting city from London for breakfast on the Waverly Diner, and it’s good to hang around earlier than going to the workplace. I’ve three hard-boiled eggs with a facet of bacon, further crispy, and avocado. I season it with scorching sauce and pepper and have two or three cups of espresso.
The workday is enjoyable — we spend it taking a look at layouts, speaking about social, and prepping for a dinner we’re internet hosting with Cartier later that night time. At midday, I discover a small bag of salted nuts in my jacket pocket that I purchased through the Larry David present. I eat half the bag. An hour and a half later, I get my basic from the Smile once more: a half rotisserie hen with roasted potatoes and a few cabbage-slaw salad with an unsweetened iced tea.
I’m house after work at 5:30. I don’t need to be hungry whereas internet hosting, so I’ve a inexperienced apple, peeled and sliced, with raspberries, blueberries, and easy almond butter. I add cinnamon and a bit vanilla extract to the almond butter for enjoyable.
I make my means over to the Cartier dinner, which is on the Plaza Lodge at 9. There, I’ve the younger kale salad, the quick ribs — that are particularly good — with mushroom risotto, and a chunk of bread. I even have a sugarless Pink Bull on ice.
On my means house after the dinner, I cease into the deli on my block and purchase pretzel crisps. Throughout my latest relapse from Whole30, I had pretzels, which have been extra unbelievable than all indulgent dinners mixed. These should not the identical. They suck, and I eat two-thirds of the bag.
Friday, October 24
I’m up at 7 a.m. regardless of the late night time, and I’ve a banana and a cup of espresso. I do some work after which go to Cafe Cluny for breakfast. I haven’t been in a very long time, however I’m assembly a pal from L.A. who used to reside right here and requested it. I get hard-boiled eggs, bacon, and avocado, and we’ve a giant good catch-up.
I’m working from house, and at 12:30, I’m going to Eva’s on West eighth, which is sort of a Mexican restaurant for bodybuilders. I don’t go there usually, however I actually adore it, and it appears like the appropriate factor to do on a Friday. I get the Riviera salmon bowl, which is grilled salmon, blended greens, and brown rice. Afterward, I cease by the workplace to test in on some issues. I’m there lengthy sufficient to snack on some strawberries; quickly after, I head again house for a peeled apple and a jog.
Within the night, my date and I make two half-pound items of salmon within the oven, together with a giant salad. I like a giant salad. My supreme salad at house is an arugula combine from the farmers’ market, cucumbers, carrots, mushrooms, and apples, since we’re in season, all with a easy French dressing. That, to me, is the dream. I additionally love the insalata verde at By way of Carota. That salad paired with the svizzerina is essentially the most Mel Ottenberg meal on this planet. Tonight’s salad combines all the accessible greens within the residence: peppers, cucumbers, carrots, purple onion, and likewise apples. The dressing is olive oil, white-wine vinegar, and mustard.
It’s a easy meal, which I want. I didn’t comprehend it then, however the subsequent day will find yourself being unexpectedly taxing. I’ll break and order shitty Chinese language meals — kung pao hen, moo shu pork, hot-and-sour soup with a scallion pancake, and duck sauce — with a pal, and will probably be comforting and excellent. If we’re not doing medicine or ingesting alcohol anymore, we’re consuming Chinese language meals.
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