- After last week's post we heard via the inbox from Ann over at A Chicken In Every Granny Cart, seems she is amp’ed up about the recently arrived seasonal appearance of Christmas Borscht at Veselka. Bonus information provided: she visits other places in the ever shortening Eastern European alley along First and Second avenues. If you go down in the daytime don’t miss a stop at Kurowycky for some of the best old world smoked meats and Eastern European specialties.

- If you have some extra time to dawdle in the office around year-end, take a run over to MouthsfulsFood.com. A whole bunch of people who take their eating very, very seriously seem to be making a concerted effort to update many of their “best of ___________” neighborhood round-up posts here at the end of 2006. Good information available for lurkers and as well as the bold who jump into their ring. Props to Ureña defender “Chambolle” who goes to extreme lengths to mount her defense – jump in here or start at the beginning.

- Most excellent editor's note in an interview with Luisa, the Wednesday Chef from Ganda and her lovely interview series: "What do you never eat? Cilantro, dill, mayonnaise, raw spinach. [Interesting...it's hard for me to imagine a life without cilantro. I'm sure it must taste different to people who don't like it. --Ed.]"

- Did you miss the wonderful heart-warmer in the Times last week? It reminds us of the beauty that can spout from an epic collaboration. Go read if you have not, Gothamist just threw it on the Christmas list.

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