Holden calls it

My friend Cad has a twin brother whose favorite line from The Catcher in the Rye has always been, "Anyway, it was December and all, and it was cold as a witch's teat."

And if you live in New York City and you were in town this weekend, you know that that line is the perfect description of what we all just suffered through.

I am happy to report, however, that I personally got through it in the best possible way: Cad was here for a visit. She's one of my forever-friends who swooped into town for a much-needed girls' weekend. You know the kind--the ones that include long conversations about big things like relationships, careers, and religion, and little things like music, shopping, and Arrested Development. There's always wine. There's always someone who almost cries. There's always those "I wish we lived closer" moments. And best of all, there is always, always food.

These photos are from an afternoon at Noodle Bar on the Lower East Side. But we also whooped it up with burgers at Bar Tabac, scallops and pork chops at Little Giant, eel and a cheese plate at Public, and Sunday brunch at Apartment 138.

(And yes, if you add that up, I am pretty sure that we just consumed approximately 100,000 calories in about a three-day period. But my personal philosophy is that increased caloric intake due to circumstances such as vacationing, falling in love, celebrating a holiday, or just catching up with a girlfriend is completely acceptable and should be encouraged.)

Thank you warming up a witch's-teat-cold weekend, my friend. I'd eat my way through New York City with you any day.