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We're in Lee, MA to pick up the kid from camp. We decide to skip the sure-to-be-crap b-fast that comes with the hotel room and find a place in town. There's a run-down-looking diner around the corner that serves only breakfast and lunch. The waitress is missing some teeth, has clearly been there forever, and has the attitude to prove it. I'm always hoping that places like this will turn out to be hidden gems... but somehow they never are. This one was! I have no idea what it's name is, and we haven't made it back. But I still dream about those pancakes.

Daily

Lucy's Lemon Squares from the Peanuts Cookbook was the first thing I ever learned to bake all by myself. Hard to imagine improving upon them, but these might!

Makes me wonder how macadamia nuts were discovered to be edible in the first place, and how they were opened way back then. Same with coconuts. Who first thought "hey, I wonder if there's something good to eat inside that thing?" Yeah, I'm a nerd!

Love these cups, and for some reason found myself so touched to learn that the designer was a Holocaust survivor.

Read this story on the subway heading to work this morning. Reading Trillin on any topic is always worthwhile. Reading him on food is altogether transporting. What I wouldn't give to have a meal with that man...

I love Peri Ela on Lexington between 90/91st. It's a beautiful, intimate space and the food is delicious.

I'm told that when I was a youngster of 5 or so, I proposed a combination of my two favorite foods as a breakfast option, asking my mother for a bacon and spaghetti sandwich. I can't imagine why this request was not fulfilled!

D'Amico's at 309 Court St. in Brooklyn has been roasting their own beans on the premises for ages and ages. Great prices and a huge number of beans to choose from. One of the few old-school places remaining in an increasingly gentrifying neighborhood, and well worth going out of your way to patronize.

There was a book out a couple of years ago called the Itty Bitty Kitchen Handbook, written by a guy who (I think) had grown up on a boat with a tiny galley kitchen. I can't vouch for the book personally, but it might be worth paging through at your local bookstore to see if it has any useful ideas.

One thing that works for me in my small NY kitchen is a baker's rack against the back wall, to supplement my very limited cabinet and counter space. It's a modular unit from the Container Store, was very reasonable and holds a good amount of stuff.

Good luck!

I love Sam's!!! I've been going there for about 12 years now and never waited that long for service, but I've probably just been lucky because Louis has his hands full doing everything, as Adam noted. Not to mention taking time to tease the kids, chat with the regulars, etc. He runs the place the way he wants it, and doesn't pretend to suck up to customers who can't appreciate his singular charms. But put yourself in his hands and with the right attitude - knowing you'll get authentic personality along with awesome pizza - and you'll come away very, very happy, and looking forward to another visit. As far as their wine and beer selections - nothing special to write about, other than to say "yes, they have wine and beer!"

Burger porn at its finest, and meant in the nicest possible way. Congrats on a great inaugural post. I'm so craving this burger right now!