Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Just make sure you pronounce it correctly, if you don't want to be laughed out of AC -- it's FOUR-mick-a, not for-MIKE-ah.

Try Evergreen, at First and 70th. I haven't eaten there for about 6 months, but they have a nicely diverse menu and some fairly sophisticated appetizers for a neighborhood place. The former owner, Henry, is no longer a hands-on player, but the management seems to be keeping up standards. If you want to go a little further uptown, the amazing Nancy Lee's Pig Heaven, at 80th and Second Avenue is well worth the hike.

Ed, Ed, what the hell diet are you on, the 5,000 calorie a day version? I applaud your zest for life, but somehow pork, egg, cheese and bread sounds like a hefty caloric load to start off the day. Pace yourself -- you have at least two other meals plus snacks at which your must consume yummy pork products. What happened to your Greek yogurt regime?

See, that IS the trap. These little snack packs do not deliver the satisfaction that regular snacks provide. It makes you long for good mouth-feel, so you eat some more. It's why we all wound up eating full boxes of those Snackwells -- no satisfaction. My way is is strict, but works for me: none of these little darlings, and instead a strictly rationed -- and very occasional -- dose of full-fat flavor. A handful of Double-cheese baked Cheetos, for example, will do the trick. A couple of spoonsful of Bobbi's wonderfully garlicky hummus, straight. Or that Zaro's brownie, if you prefer. Try it.