The No. 1 factor that Emily Sundberg, the author behind the all of the sudden all over the place Substack Feed Me, will get requested is what a day in her life is like. She normally avoids the query: “My day is de facto totally different on daily basis, and I’m actually overwhelmed, and if anyone has recommendation on the right way to streamline something, have at it.” In case you learn the publication, you recognize she’s shortly turn out to be one of many busiest folks in New York Metropolis — popping from occasion to restaurant to assembly. Her schedule calls for near-constant city-traversing — from midtown to South Slope and again, time and again. This week, she managed to eat in three boroughs (plus cookies from dwelling on Lengthy Island). Sundberg sees eating out as a vital to her publication and has discovered herself reveling within the particulars at eating places — from what paper a menu is printed on to the sorts of audio system at a brand new bar.
Tuesday, February 17
My husband and I reside a couple of one-minute stroll from a Mr. Kiwi, and we go nearly on daily basis, which implies we’re all the time stocked up on baggage of Lavazza. We now have a Moccamaster, and whoever’s up first makes the espresso.
I put common milk in my espresso now — natural entire milk. I used to make use of a soy creamer, however it wasn’t for me due to all the additional binders. Regardless of the sweetest espresso creamer is within the neighborhood is what wins. If I’m at a 7-Eleven on Lengthy Island, it’s going to be Espresso Mate. After I exit for espresso, I’m all the time ordering a latte, which is simply milk, as everyone knows. I plop in sugar from a bit jar that was a marriage reward from an aunt — it appears prefer it’s from a craft honest in New Jersey primarily based on this particular aunt’s buying habits. They’re not likely sugar cubes, extra like rocks. They kind of self-dose — you both get a medium-size sugar rock or a small one. I like getting to check my luck on how candy my espresso is every morning.
I’m going to my workplace in Fidi and have lunch at Pho John Avenue. I’m going there on a regular basis. It’s my first time being an everyday someplace since transferring into this workplace. They’ve this gorgeous skylight within the again — it’s like a $10 lunch, nice meals, all these indoor crops. There’s one thing very charming and stress-free about it. I’d been taking folks there for work conferences, after which I introduced my husband one evening. He was like, “You already know why folks go to sushi for work conferences, proper? It’s very simple to eat sushi in a gathering. Consuming an enormous bowl of noodles in entrance of a stranger isn’t the best factor.” That by no means occurred to me.
I write my publication from the workplace and end up taking pictures an advert. Then I’ve a gathering in midtown at 22 Vanderbilt — my first time there. It’s all finance guys in vests. They’ve a really generic-looking espresso place and a really generic-looking bar that’s kind of like if you go to the flamboyant new restaurant in a brand new terminal of an airport. I get a lemon ginger tea.
I come dwelling to Brooklyn briefly earlier than dinner in Manhattan. No one ever desires to take a espresso assembly in Park Slope. So going to Manhattan, again to Brooklyn, again to Manhattan, and again to Brooklyn just isn’t a completely uncommon factor for me. I’m used to it. I finances in time to do issues on the prepare. I don’t know that I technically classify as a bag woman, however I all the time have a extremely large bag with me, my laptop computer, and a bunch of chargers always.
After I get dwelling, I’ve a peanut butter cookie from my mother. She despatched me dwelling over Valentine’s Day weekend with them — they’re kind of her signature factor, we gave them out to all of the friends at my wedding ceremony final 12 months. The trick is you possibly can’t use wholesome peanut butter. You must use Jif, as a result of there’s further oil in it that retains the cookie steady and holds its form. She’s actually cautious about all of that. She units timers. I don’t try this. After I bake, issues both come out burnt or uncooked.
Then I flip again round and go to the brand new Ambassadors Clubhouse in Nomad. I’m going with my buddy Gabby, and my husband, Jake, comes after work since his workplace is close by. It’s an enormous two-story restaurant. Massive interiors finances: carpets, curtains, lighting. It has the identical richness as a Casa Cipriani, Chez Margaux, or Polo Bar. There’s a crest stamped onto many surfaces. I like that so most of the press items about it have been like, “It’s within the constructing that A24 is in,” as a result of it’s a fairly normal Nomad workplace constructing, however A24’s workplaces simply occur to be in there.
We get seated going through this personal room of seven finance guys, and they’re so on show that it nearly feels intentional. I discover they order the atta hen, which is served in an enormous puff pastry formed like a hen. They’re right here for the theatrics.
We let the chef select our journey: a shrimp, a rice, a lamb, and two desserts. The lamb is unimaginable, tremendous tender with all these greens — spinach and the whole lot — blended into it, nearly like a saag, and really spicy. We don’t order the hen — flattened thighs, tremendous buttery, nearly like lollipops — however they ship it over. I’ve by no means seen it offered like that. I believe we’ve two martinis and two glasses of wine, and I promise I didn’t order two of every. We end with this unimaginable banana pudding with gold-dusted peanuts on prime.
On our means out, Jake is handed what appears like sprinkles — candy-covered anise seeds. They style like licorice. Somebody on the entrance desk places them unfastened in his hand. Very “Jack and the Beanstalk.”
Wednesday, February 18
Espresso, various-size sugar rock. I even have a lemon-lime Liquid IV, as a result of my supply of LMNT hasn’t proven up but. I choose LMNT — it’s a bit bitter, I actually like citric acid — however the Liquid IV does its job effectively sufficient. I imply, nothing actually works. I’m 31. It’s onerous to do my job hung-over. I all the time say {that a} sluggish information day just isn’t the worst factor for my publication — it’s a hangover. I’ve a peanut butter cookie and a vanilla Siggi’s for breakfast whereas I write the publication from dwelling.
I’m going into town for a gathering, then get ashes for Ash Wednesday at a kind of woke church two blocks south of Union Sq.. They’ve all of the delight flags outdoors. A girl offers me the ashes, which I’ve by no means had earlier than — type of cool. She waits outdoors all day in a cloak and a bonnet, nearly like she’s about to be in a play in regards to the witch trials. I don’t even must go inside. Final 12 months, I sat by means of an entire mass, so I really feel a bit responsible, however I’m additionally pleased I might simply swing by and get it like a merchandising machine.
Since I’m near Citarella, I ball out and cease by to get stuff for dinner. The fish man is in such a great temper. I additionally seize chips and their house-made guacamole. I used to all the time get the premade guac at Union Market, however they began placing some type of preservative in it. I don’t blame them, however it modified the style.
I’m going dwelling and eat the chips and guac whereas I make dinner. I’ve been making an attempt this TikTok approach for restaurant-style crispy salmon, the place you sear it first on the range after which end it within the oven, so that you get that tremendous crispy edge with out doing the entire thing on the stovetop. I prepare dinner it very merely, with lemon, salt, pepper, rice, and broccolini, and have the final peanut butter cookie for dessert.
I attempt to get a head begin on the subsequent day’s publication. If I’m dwelling at evening and have the chance to get the concepts flowing earlier than the morning, I take it.
Thursday, February 19
I’ve remedy on the Higher East Aspect at 7:45 a.m. This slot is unimaginable as a result of you don’t have any time to determine what you need to speak about — you simply begin speaking. I used to go at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, and that was dangerous as a result of you’ve gotten the load of the entire day on you, and you recognize precisely what you assume you need to speak about. My therapist’s workplace is subsequent to a Le Ache, so I get a espresso first.
I’m going to the health club and stroll on the treadmill on the Prospect Park YMCA. I like my YMCA. I like that there’s a monitor as a result of you possibly can stroll round it. I like that on chilly, snowy days, folks can take their households there. Some dads have come as much as me there and instructed me they learn Feed Me. I believe a lady would know to by no means try this to somebody on the health club. I’m going dwelling, end the publication, and eat some leftover salmon and rice with chile crisp on prime.
Dinner is at Dawa’s in Woodside with Jason, who hosts Feed Me’s podcast, Expense Account, and our buddy Arjun — he urged the place. The place is a really cozy household restaurant. Some tables are ladies who seem like youngsters; others are older {couples}. I like consuming with Jason as a result of he’s made me recognize all the mechanics and theater that go into eating places. He picks up one of many napkins and marvels at it: “This can be a lovely piece of cloth.” The dishware are beautiful ceramics, and the entire room has tapestries on the partitions. The menu has two sides — one Himalayan, yet another normal. We get a kabocha stew, noodles, hen dumplings, citrus salad with avocado and yogurt, and a surprisingly unimaginable kale salad with toasted nuts and a few cheese. I assume the kale salad just isn’t from the Himalayan facet. It’s a wonderful, balanced meal. Dessert is a chocolate soufflé with whipped cream. Arjun and Jason drink wine, however I get a lemon ginger tea.
After dinner, we go to Nightmoves as a result of our buddy Delia Cai is having her tenth-anniversary occasion for her publication. They’re serving Jell-O pictures and cake, however I depart earlier than the cake is lower and don’t have a Jell-O shot.
Friday, February 20
I get up early. I make espresso — sugar rock, all that — and head to the Frick with Chloe Malle, whom I’ve met a couple of instances however by no means actually hung out with. She invited me, and I’m excited. I’d been for a press preview when it reopened, however there’s a brand new Gainsborough exhibition that opened proper in the midst of Trend Week, which is type of enjoyable as a result of all the work are tremendous fashion-forward.
We get espresso on the restaurant inside — I’ve been dying to go. It’s small however cute. I get to the bar and get a latte, and we’re kind of wrapping up, however there are these two perhaps 80-year-old males sitting subsequent to us speaking about what to order, and it’s in all probability like 11:30, and one in every of them is like, “Ought to we get the cheesecake?” And the opposite man is like, “Oh, I used to be considering extra just like the bread basket.” They get each.
I stroll uptown to Bergdorf for a stroll — it’s a bit bit miserable as a result of everyone’s on their telephone. I’m making an attempt to choose up one thing for a buddy’s birthday celebration tonight. She’s a social-media supervisor, so I need to get her these enjoyable eye masks that you just put underneath your eyes as a result of she’s in all probability all the time drained; she works a lot. However they’re out of them. So I stroll over to Bloomingdale’s and get her eye cream.
I’ve a lunch assembly with my buddy Paul Needham, who’s the CEO of the Infatuation, and we go to its new workplace at 270 Park. It’s lovely. It’s insane. They’ve a non-public Sweetgreen, a non-public Every day Provisions, however what’s been getting all the eye is that this pub referred to as Morgan’s. It’s like 30 seats, and everyone’s making an attempt to get on the wait record. They serve Guinness, no matter. We each order burgers, however Paul actually desires to attempt the fried-chicken sandwich, so we each get a burger and break up the fried-chicken sandwich. I do need to acknowledge that I shouldn’t have eaten pink meat throughout Lent, however I did, and I do know that, however I believe it’s going to be okay.
The burger is nice. They don’t serve alcohol till 4 p.m., which might be accountable, however you possibly can have a bit cheeky 4 p.m. drink assembly. I believe the meals in there’s barely sponsored, or at the very least, it needs to be sponsored.
I’m going dwelling, reset, dress, and head again uptown. My fixed back-and-forth from Manhattan to Park Slope is a bug, not a function. I’ve lived in my residence for over seven years, and it was cute for some time once I didn’t have conferences on a regular basis. You nearly marvel — in case you eliminated a few of that friction, how significantly better might life get? There are people who find themselves in all probability studying this who say, Emily cancels, or bails, or modifications plans final minute. And I do. I’m sorry. I’m sorry to those that I’ve fumbled plans with. I’m making an attempt my greatest.
Sasha’s birthday celebration begins at 10 p.m. — that’s daring, asking folks to return to the Higher East Aspect at 10 p.m., for me, any person who likes to go to mattress early. My buddy Charlotte Klein desires to get dinner beforehand, so we go to Match 65. It’s a cute French bistro a couple of blocks from the park. We get calamari and their artichoke French dressing to start out. I get a Eating regimen Coke — I need to prolong the evening so long as I can. If I drink an excessive amount of, I get drained, and I do know the occasion begins at ten, so I have to final till at the very least 11:30. I get their salmon; Charlotte will get their mussels with fries, and I’ve a couple of of her fries. It’s nice.
The occasion has these nice bartenders who make a very nice gin-and-tonic, which feels just like the transfer for that evening — I kind of nurse it over the course of an hour and a half. Sasha additionally received these cute blinis for the caviar; she makes a bit speech the place she says they had been handmade.
Saturday, February 21
I make espresso at dwelling with my sugar rocks, after which Jake and I do the large loop round Prospect Park. We begin at our home and stroll as much as Grand Military for the farmers’ market. There’s a tiny little farmers’ market farther south close to me on Wednesdays and Sundays that solely has like 4 stands — vegetable, fish, beef, and eggs, and an data stand the place they hand out pamphlets. I’m going there fairly usually, however the Saturday Grand Military one has all the great things, like Misplaced Bread Co. I get an oat bar for breakfast, and we get a pretzel shortbread for our buddy’s birthday celebration that evening as a part of his current. We additionally seize greens, apples, and hen.
We go dwelling and determine we’ll make dinner as a substitute of looking for a reservation earlier than the birthday celebration in Williamsburg. I’ve been traditional-Chinese language-medicine-curious currently — warming meals, soups, teas. I’m making an attempt to offset the mania of my schedule with therapeutic modes of motion and consumption to the perfect of my capacity. So I make an enormous pot of tea with cut-up apples, lemon, and ginger, and let it prepare dinner for about half-hour. Jake and I every have an enormous cup.
I’ve a bunch of random substances and didn’t precisely know what I might make, so I Google “ginger scallion hen” and find yourself making a poached hen from Woks of Life — I’d by no means used the positioning earlier than, however the recipe is nice. I additionally make an enormous pot of rice in our rice-maker that performs cute little songs.
Then we take an Uber over to Williamsburg for our buddy’s birthday celebration at H&H, which is diagonal from Kellogg’s Diner. That they had one thing on the menu referred to as Fancy Bitters and Soda — I get two of these. I believe what makes it fancy is perhaps a splash of lime, however it comes with a sidecar of Topo Chico, so that you’re strolling round with a glass cup and a bit glass bottle to maintain filling it up as you are taking every sip. Clearly $6. Lots of people seize sizzling canine from the Canine Day Afternoon outpost inside, which is enjoyable.
After I get dwelling, I’ve half a cookie-dough David bar. I don’t like them very a lot, however it’s there, and I would like a snack — plus a spoonful of almond butter. After I eat actually good-quality nut butter with a spoon, one thing occurs in my mind the place it turns right into a pudding. There’s nearly a mantra that goes together with it that rationalizes it one way or the other. After repeating my mantra, I inform myself I have to go to mattress.
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