Doing Shots...of Wheatgrass

Girl walks into a bar.

She orders a shot.

The bartender reaches for his lawnmower. Or gardening shears. Or one of those machete-scythes they wield in the jungle and he starts cutting. You get the point. I’m talking about grass, here, wheatgrass, specifically. The kind you drink for health purposes.

Last week, I was a little bit sick: sore throat, earache, and lethargy like lead in the veins. Being sick this time of year really does feel like you’re “under the weather.” As in, the weather is great, and you are much less so.

On Saturday, I rallied for a stroll/hike with a friend through Central Park’s North Woods then peered respectfully over the well-groomed hedges of the Conservatory Garden. That little burst of activity combined with all that greenspace put us in the mood for something extra-healthy. So we headed south toward my favorite vegetarian restaurant on the Upper East: Candle Café on 3^rd between 74^th and 75^th and ordered the aforementioned “treat” at their juice bar.

Wheatgrass, which is the young grass of the common wheat plant, is basically a nutritional supplement, purportedly loaded with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It is said to improve digestion, promote detoxification, and even prevent cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Jenny Makholm, of Candle Café, says that lots of regulars order wheatgrass for the chlorophyll and enzymes. Many consider the wheatgrass juicer to be a veritable fountain of youth.

Others claim it’s all bunk. All I know is that where health is concerned, it’s important to try. Sometimes just doing things or eating foods that are generally perceived to be healthy can inspire you to pursue other things that are healthy. Maybe wheatgrass has miraculous curative powers or maybe it’s a placebo. Maybe, like a placebo, it can have a positive effect simply if you think it can.

For those of you who are reading these words with a crinkled nose, I’m here to say that wheatgrass is actually good. And I’m not some kind of hardcore sprout-head; I also have a “healthy” appreciation for ice cream, potato chips, pizza (see last week’s post), and all kinds of other nutritional evils.

You might think wheatgrass is bitter. (This assumption might be based on the taste test you once conducted as a kid. Come on, I know you secretly nibbled on a blade, once…or was that just me?) In fact, this potable variety is surprisingly sweet. And thanks to the juice press, the extracted juice is not viscous but smooth. Truthfully, it’s tasty enough to sip. It’s brilliantly green with a bit of froth on the top. My friend and I clinked our little glasses together with a chuckle and I proceeded to do a few more shots over the next few days.

I’m feeling better, now, thanks. Whether this is from the fresh air, the wheatgrass or, just the simple passage of time is unclear. I do believe that wheatgrass is at least a slight contributing factor and that intermittent doses throughout the year do promote general health.

There are several places on the Upper East where you can get wheatgrass. In addition to Candle Café, there’s The Green Bean Café (pictured left), a nook on York between 75^th and 76^th, owned an operated by the same folks who run the splendid Beanocchio’s on the same block.

There’s also A Matter of Health on the corner of 1^st and 77^th. Order your shot from the cashiers up front then wend your way through the maze of health foods and vitamins toward the juice counter/deli at the back of the store. There are also two local Jamba Juice stores: on Lexington between 86^th and 87^th and on 3^rd between 60^th and 61^st.

No matter where you go for wheatgrass, you’ll immediately notice its distinctive scent. If you’re like me, this might transport you back to another time and another place…to playgrounds or ballparks either nearby or far away from the UES.

I’m personally reminded of Sunday afternoons when my dad mowed our lawn in Wisconsin. Afterwards, I’d somehow manage to get grass stains all over the seat and knees of my favorite white jeans. Back then, of course I didn’t think about the concept of health; I didn’t know the difference between being young and feeling young. Of course, everything’s relative. Likewise, there are things in our lives we can’t control and many things we can.

And what if the secret to health and longevity really could be found in a tiny cup of green liquid? Well, then bottoms up.

Local Pizza: A Summer Slice (or Several)

It would be a bit of a stretch (of the waistband) to call myself a pizza expert, but I am certainly an enthusiast. And so what if Brooklyn is America’s pizza capitol? I’m not going to argue with that. I just know the UES also provides ample opportunities to indulge.

Likewise, though I’m not a meteorologist, I’m pretty sure this was New York’s nicest weekend of the summer, thus far: temperatures in the low 80’s and negligible humidity, for once. The only cloud I spotted was in the shape of a thumbs-up. So it was great to sit outside and nibble (okay devour) some ‘za.

First, on Saturday, I met up with a friend who came in with her daughter from Queens on the Q32 bus. She’s an UES expatriate, and though I’ll never forgive her for leaving, she regains a few points for coming back to visit.

We intended to sit outside and get eggs somewhere near where they got dropped off, at 60th and 2nd. We couldn’t find this exact formula so decided on a Tuscan eatery, Mediterraneo, on the corner of 66th and 2nd. We were seated at a shaded table on the sidewalk, a prime spot for people-watching.

While her adorable 8 month-old had to settle for a bottle, my friend and I shared the Insalata Estiva with avocado, hearts of palm, and parmigianno. It was tasty, if a bit skimpier than expected. We also shared the Margherita Pizza made with crust so light and thin it was really just a vehicle for the sauce, mozzarella, and basil. This kind of pizza probably wasn’t invented in honor of carb-counters (and I hardly classify as one) but eating it was delightfully guilt-free.

We were pleased that a bowl of red pepper flakes appeared without even being requested. And we had good laugh about the server’s black pepper grinder: it was no bigger than a pen, like some kind of James Bond gadget.

The next night, I was happy to also sit outside at Oh Mamma mia on 2nd between 76th and 77th. This restaurant, which opened in March of 2006 has a rustic vibe and clever interior lighting: hanging lights are composed of graters, colanders, and whisks. Flanked by leafy planters, the sidewalk section is cozy and bustling just about every time I walk by. However, let’s not get too caught up in the charming setting, because the pizza here is excellent. It’s baked in a brick oven tucked into the end of the bar. I’ll admit I’ve sampled a few of these pies now, and this latest one was the best yet.

Turns out all the pizzas here are named after Italian songs. My friend and I were enticed by The Maramao with eggplant, fresh ricotta, and arugola. We were intrigued by an ingredient called, “garlic crumbs” (quite logically, bread crumbs sautéed with garlic).

The crust of their pizza is great (and I enjoyed watching the authentic dough-toss behind my friend’s head – though I swear I was listening to everything he said!) but it’s the toppings that really stand out, here. The sauce was already packed with flavor and those garlic crumbs kicked this pizza into what I can only describe as some kind of elevated dimension. When I suggested we go ahead and order a second one, my friend assumed I was joking. For the record, I was not.

No, I didn’t have pizza three times this weekend, but I have to mention my favorite slice in the ‘hood, which I regularly pick up at Gotham Pizza (formerly a Pintaile’s location) on York between 76th and 77th. Though this small slice-and-pie joint has just a few tables, they open their front doors onto the street in the summer.

While all of their pies are solid, the Grandma’s Pizza is what I highly recommend. This has a thick crust, fresh basil, and lots of garlic in the homemade sauce. The recipe of this square pie was passed down from the Tuscan grandmother of one of the owners.

Of course, these are just a few local pizza options…I’m glad to say there are many more. Summer will soon come to a close, so we should specifically take advantage of all these outside dining spots on the UES. The good news is that this means bathing suit season will also soon be behind us. I think I’ll celebrate with another slice (or several.)