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Well, not really. Anita Lo, one of our favorite chefs, has been doing amazing work on Top Chef: Masters. Her Anissa restaurant has been a go-to spot for us on Valentine's Day and our first-date anniversary.
Lo, who also runs the Rickshaw Dumpling Bar in Manhattan (they have a truck in Park Slope!), is playing for SHARE, a survivor-led nonprofit supporting women with ovarian and breast cancer.
Check it out and root for her August 5 on Bravo!
Readers new and old, you are in for a treat. Here's RonniLyn Pustil, who worked with Kevin at POZ Magazine, his first job in NYC. She broke Manhattan's heart when she moved back home to Toronto to live the life of her dreams. She's a lifelong friend and we thought it was time you met.
Can you tell us about your work?
I'm a freelance editor and I currently have two clients: CATIE (Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange) is a nonprofit HIV treatment information agency and I also work for Clean Eating magazine. I'm looking for more work now, so if you hear of anything...
How are Lil & Fran?
There are no words for Lily (3) & Franny (21 months), my two gorgeous girls (below). They are my life. Come over for a playdate!
Lily's favourite word du jour: "Absolutely!" Franny's favourite youtube video: Planet Unicorn... "Heeeeyyyy!"
Do you have a favorite story that you worked on at POZ?
There was the feature on medical marijuana that I edited, written by Stacie Stukin. There were a few Gazette news stories that were fun. But most of all, I'd have to say I loved working with the columnists and helping shape their real-life stories into something they were proud of. That was the most rewarding work I did there.
Is there a
memory from the POZ offices you care to share?
What comes to mind right now is the summer that Aiden Shaw was a guest editor at the office and everyone fell madly in love with him. [Editors' note: This is the Brit-born, uh, adult film star/memoirist, not the Sex and the City character that was intentionally named after him. He was ridiculously polite.]
I'll also never forget spending an afternoon with Barton Benes at his studio while he was being photographed by Nan Goldin for his POZ cover.
What celebrity would you like to have a cocktail with?
Jon Gosselin (joke!). Probably Richard Gere. A few cocktails if you know what I mean... I've had a crush on him forever.
Can you tell us
about the night you met Al Pacino?
It was September 1996. A friend took me to the Eugene O'Neill play "Hughie" at Circle in the Square theater, starring my love Al Pacino. My friend told me that he was friends with Al, but I thought he was just trying to impress me.
After the
play we went backstage and stood in line outside of Al's dressing room. There
was Sam Shephard! When it was our turn to say hello, Al invited us to dinner
with him!!! We went to Joe Allen's. Al ordered some kind of steak and offered
me a bite from his fork! I was a vegetarian but I ate that steak! That's right! For dessert we
shared the banana cream pie (or was it coconut?). Al was warm, chatty and
engaging.
It was only my second week living in NYC, and I thought that is what life was going to be like there.
If anyone out there is having a rough day, what song should they play?
For any kind of day: "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye.
We know a few wonderful single girls. As the Carrie Bradshaw of Kevin's life for years in NYC, do you have any advice for them?
Spend quality time with your friends. Practice yoga. Treat yourself (think food, mani-pedis, clothes). Go out dancing. Enjoy being single. Sometimes it's hard to do that last one if you're looking for love, but trust me, enjoy it. Kiss a lot of boys.
How did you
meet Rob? When did you know he was the one?
I met Rob on a blind date. We were fixed up by mutual friends. I knew he was the one by our third date. He basically announced to me: "We're going to do this. But we're going to take it slow because this is something special and I don't want to screw it up." Also, he was (and still is) an excellent kisser.
For those visiting Toronto, can you tell us about Rob's restaurant/lounge Supermarket?
Supermarket is in a very funky part of town called Kensington Market. It is an Asian fusion restaurant with tapas-style dishes. The food is super yummy and meant to be shared. Sweet, spicy and fresh. It is also a nightclub with live bands and DJs.
My favourite dish on the menu is the Veggie Pad Thai. I also love the Mango Salad and the curry dishes are delish. Oh, and the Sweet Potato Chips. My favourite cocktail is the lychee martini.
We have had the best weekend in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Brian's parents (Paul & Carol) and Kevin's mom (Kathleen) toured the capitol on Saturday with us and Scott. Kathleen just loves the Madison area and has enjoyed spending time with Carol. Sunday, while the guys went searching for fresh sweet corn, the girls took a ride in Carol's convertible. They have fun together, as you can see in the photo below of them enjoying a beer train with us at The Great Dane.
A couple of years ago Brian’s parents gave us a grill pan and it changed our lives. We use it all the time. This here is a hearty summer salad — a take-off on Barefoot Contessa's Wasabi Tuna Rolls — that’s so easy Kevin made it on his own last night just as Brian was getting in from work. Brian called it a deconstructed guacamole. We like spicy, but you can drop the jalapeno. In fact, the salad is so basic that you should think of anything you like about Mexican food and toss it in.
Salad of grilled tuna with avocado and a lime-jalapeno dressing (for two)
Directions
Get a big bowl cuz you’re gonna throw everything in there. Put in olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, soy sauce, salt and pepper and give it a whisk.
Slice the avocado in half lengthwise so you can get the pit out cleanly. Get the meat of the avocado onto a cutting board and slice it into fat chunks. Quickly get into the lime dressing (as you know, the lime keeps it from browning). Put in the tomato, red onion and jalapeno.
Are you ready for the tuna? As you get the grill nice and hot on a high temp, cover each side of the tuna steak in olive oil and salt/coarse pepper. Drop it on the grill and don’t touch it for 2 minutes, then flip and don’t touch it again for 2 minutes. Transfer to cutting board and let it rest a minute. Then chop into big meaty chunks. Put it in the bowl of dressing and mix it up. (You’re just searing the tuna, so it will be really raw inside—but you will also be amazed at how the lime continues to cook it. So you want to stick to the short grilling time.)
Throw it all on a bed of greens (with the basil mixed in — it will pop), take a potato peeler to a chunk of parmesan and peel off little ribbons over it. For crunch, sprinkle with some toasted pine nuts (or whatever you like—just something for texture). You’re done and you’re smug.
Are you the woman who came to our party and were so busy having fun that you left your silk camel-taupe Banana Republic cardigan (somewhat like this one) in our apartment?
Many people have told us how nice it was to get to know Lee Eng Tan at the wedding. Isn't she great?
Lee Eng is currently preparing to host "my Non-Reading Book Club — a wine club under an alias— which is a total blast of an evening featuring a different theme each month." July's is “American Road Trip,” she says, "starring the wines of our 50 states. We’ve got our ticket to ride!" Then it's off to see her sister Alaina in Ft. Lauderdale with a side trip to South Beach, "to take advantage of the clubs and the beach," says Lee Eng. "Sun, sand and frothy beach drinks, here I come! I hope to see many of you again, because I had an awesome time with everyone!"
Since Lee Eng was a part of making our night so great, we asked her to recount some of her favorite moments of hanging out with you guys.
Who is someone you met at the wedding who blew you away?
There were just too many fabulous people at this wedding, it was like being in a wind tunnel of awesomeness! I am so happy to have made great friends! However, I remain totally affected by Barton Lidice Benes' work. Having the pleasure of being in Brian and Kevin's Brooklyn apartment and seeing Barton's work there. . . I am awed by the witty, insightful, playful and provocative nature of his art. I really enjoyed the opportunity to steal another moment of Barton's time.
Was there a moment on the dance floor that will live in your memory?
I had a riot on the dance floor. If you make me choose, I loved how everyone went nuts for "I Gotta Man" and you can never go wrong with a solid conga line.
Is there a moment from the ceremony that sticks out?
When Kevin and Brian spoke their vows to each other, the love and deep respect that they hold for each other was tangible and absolute. Surrounded by family and friends and framed by beautiful stained glass windows, it was a timeless moment.
After our party at the apartment Friday, you were part of a pub crawl into Manhattan (above).
Ah, our East Village Bar Crawl. I loved the name of Whiskey Town and the fact that we appropriated the "I love this bar" beer cozies (Laura's purse — stylish and functional). My favorite conquest of the night, however, was Dempsey's because we sat under a Guinness Mirror, drank our beers from the appropriate glasses and played a rousing game of coaster flip where we basically threw coasters at each other. Good times!
Do you have a memory involving an Esser sibling?
Of course! Because Essers are all manner of awesome. Walking down Flatbush Avenue on the way to the after-party, arm in arm with Jeffrey (right), busting out with "Living on a Prayer" and singing "Whooah, we're halfway there. . ." well, because we were halfway there! Also: Scott schooling me in the coaster flip game that I had just taught him. How did that happen?
When are we all hanging out again?
Soon? Let me check the flights! Of course, I am always game for a good time, so bring on the party and I'll be there! Will travel for adventure.
