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- As of Tuesday, Jan 13th 2026, we're still here.
As of Tuesday, Jan 13th 2026, we're still here.
500ish words from Greg Iwinski
Greg Iwinski
January 14, 2026
I recently picked up a new cookbook: specifically this cookbook. There are lots of staple “all-the-time” foods you can get in New York City, but near the top of my list are the hand pulled noodles at Xi’an Famous Foods (extra spicy).
It’s a comfort food. Everyone needs at least one — that meal you get when the day has been a day. The meal you eat in the restaurant, staring out the window at the world, wondering what the hell happened. A meal that is 50% reward, 50% antidepressant. That is, as the kids would say, self-care.
…this feels like it’s getting pretty far away from cookbooks? Is that still part of this or was that just an in to talk about noodles?
I have had lots of comfort foods, but the best way to organize them is probably geographically.
In NYC, it’s handpulled noodles.
Previously in NYC it was popping into a very small bar-only Japanese place for some ramen. Which is… also noodles, just from a different country.
In LA it was sushi. You thought it was going to be noodles again! Don’t you look silly, it’s something totally different!1
In Chicago it was an Italian Beef dipped with hot peppers.
In Chicago it was also two char dogs with the full Chicago set of toppings.
In New Orleans it was 3 pounds crawfish, 2 pounds shrimp, 1 pound corn/potatoes.
In Phoenix it was a green chile burrito, a side of rice, and a horchata.