In Print | In Process | Snacking with Dan Funderburgh

A week ago, I was able to attend Dan's first public talk and demonstration, In Print | In Process: Dan Funderburgh. The event was held at the Museum of Arts & Design here in NYC, in conjunction with American Craft magazine (there's an article on Dan in the latest issue). I'm biased, but I'm also insightful, and I say he presented with integrity and wit to the overflowing house.





The talk and demonstration were fun (and informative!), but I especially enjoyed our overpriced dinner and drinks at Ace Hotel NY afterward. Friends gathered in the hotel bar and lobby both to congratulate Dan and to celebrate tall-and-talented-drink-of-water Brock's birthday.





The hotel's atmosphere was jovial -- and not, as I'd feared, snooty -- but my grilled cheese and ham sandwich was the shining star. It was splendiferous (of course, at $16, it should have been) -- hot and crunchy and melted cheesy, served with a few incredible cornichons and a fab spicy mustard for dipping. Cheese, pickles, and mustard are three of my favorite things, individually or together.



The only dark spots on the evening?

• Dan's (chicken?) sandwich was a little less exciting than mine (but I liked mine too much to go halvsies).
• The waitress said she couldn't make me a white Russian. (You're a trendy hotel with a kitchen and full bar. You don't have milk or cream back there somewhere?)
• Our sandwiches and drinks came to $80-something. (We were only there an hour or two.)

I wouldn't call those spots too dark, though. They were more like flickers of wrong in the midst of a whole lot of right.

Congratulations again, Dan! I can't wait for my next opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments with terrific food.