Illustration: Sarah Kilcoyne
Mel Ottenberg, stylist and editor-in-chief of Interview journal, takes consuming and merriment significantly. How might 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 making an attempt (and sometimes 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 typically kinds cowl shoots, together with the current one with Sabrina Carpenter. He’s by no means giving up on eager to attempt new eating places within the metropolis, however for now, he’s at Citarella quite a bit. “Jewish carbs are in my blood,” Ottenberg says. “However I’m all the time preventing it as a result of I don’t wish to be a comfortable, middle-aged Jewish man both.” It’s a small rebuke, no less than in his rule e book. “The best way I see it’s that I wish to eat rather well until I don’t really feel prefer it,” he provides. “I’m all the time 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. Everyone has some fancy, cunt-y espresso setup, however I exploit 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 best 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 unhealthy and typically it was good. Now, simply earlier than turning 50, I’ve discovered the best 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 just a little 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 making an attempt 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 rooster and a facet salad. The opposite editor-in-chief and I’ve enjoyable, and he pays.
I eat a variety of rotisserie rooster. I’ve all the time been into it as a result of (a) it tastes good and (b) it’s prompt. It’s all over the place, and it feels comparatively wholesome but additionally satisfying. It’s a Whole30 staple, too. I’ve been doing Whole30 since August, however not too long ago I had a short relapse. I went to Basta Pasta and had a few of every thing, and the evening after I had an impromptu romantic dinner date at Congee Village. I actually do like understanding and having main power, however I additionally wish to deal with myself. I don’t suppose I’m that shrill about it. I’m a Taurus. Life’s too brief to not take pleasure in it and have some bread typically.
After lunch, I am going again to the workplace. There’s a brand new chain sensation referred to as Nuts Manufacturing facility that I typically order from, and round 4 p.m., I get unsalted almonds and approach 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 rooster from Citarella. Shout-out to Citarella rotisserie rooster for being actually good — and proper by me. I don’t know if there shall be meals at a birthday celebration I’m going to later, so I eat extra rotisserie rooster and a Bubbies kosher dill pickle earlier than leaving.
The celebration is at an condominium in Bushwick. It’s cute! I run into some folks, and there may be meals, so I’ve two grilled rooster skewers.
Tuesday, October 21
I get up and have black espresso round 7 a.m. Within the mornings, I wish to get the paper, learn a few articles within the New York Occasions, 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 received 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 am going to the workplace and work by way of lunch.
At 2 p.m., I order a traditional workplace meal from the Smile: a half rotisserie rooster, 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 buddy. We’re having dinner afterward, however my buddy desires 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 massive in a futuristic approach.
On the present, Larry David’s superb. Even him simply chatting about his profession is a pleasure. And it’s an viewers of those that love him, myself included. At one level, Larry mentions Cheryl Hines. Some folks clap after which there’s a wave of murmurs by way of the room. A spotlight of the evening.
After the present, we now have dinner at Dame. My buddy and I share a diffusion: 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 evening by beginning Gosford Park whereas consuming strawberries.
Wednesday, October 22
I begin the morning at 7:30 with fruit and black espresso, as per traditional, besides that as we speak, I exploit new espresso I purchased at Lifetime. It’s unhealthy, and I received’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 saved being actually sick. After being an enormous apple eater my whole life, I had out of the blue grow to be allergic to apple peels. It is among the weirdest issues that has ever occurred to me.
I’ve an evening off tonight. I used to be planning to show off my cellphone and watch a film, however I find yourself working at house. Round 8:45, I order one among 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 just a little extra of Gosford Park and go to mattress early in order that I will 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 fitness center 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 buddy 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, additional 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 layouts, speaking about social, and prepping for a dinner we’re internet hosting with Cartier later that evening. 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 traditional from the Smile once more: a half rotisserie rooster 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 wish to be hungry whereas internet hosting, so I’ve a inexperienced apple, peeled and sliced, with raspberries, blueberries, and clean almond butter. I add cinnamon and just a little vanilla extract to the almond butter for enjoyable.
I make my approach over to the Cartier dinner, which is on the Plaza Lodge at 9. There, I’ve the younger kale salad, the brief ribs — that are particularly good — with mushroom risotto, and a chunk of bread. I even have a sugarless Crimson Bull on ice.
On my approach house after the dinner, I cease into the deli on my block and purchase pretzel crisps. Throughout my current relapse from Whole30, I had pretzels, which have been extra unbelievable than all indulgent dinners mixed. These usually are 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 evening, 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 buddy from L.A. who used to dwell right here and requested it. I get hard-boiled eggs, bacon, and avocado, and we now have an enormous good catch-up.
I’m working from house, and at 12:30, I am going to Eva’s on West eighth, which is sort of a Mexican restaurant for bodybuilders. I don’t go there typically, however I actually like it, and it appears like the suitable factor to do on a Friday. I get the Riviera salmon bowl, which is grilled salmon, combined greens, and brown rice. Afterward, I cease by the workplace to verify 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 an enormous salad. I like an enormous salad. My best 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 Through Carota. That salad paired with the svizzerina is probably the most Mel Ottenberg meal on the earth. Tonight’s salad combines the entire accessible greens within the condominium: peppers, cucumbers, carrots, crimson onion, and in addition 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 rooster, moo shu pork, hot-and-sour soup with a scallion pancake, and duck sauce — with a buddy, and will probably be comforting and ideal. If we’re not doing medicine or consuming alcohol anymore, we’re consuming Chinese language meals.
EAT LIKE THE EXPERTS.
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