You just couldn’t script something like this… I was meeting New York magazine food critic Gael Greene for lunch at Momofuku Noodle Bar in Manhattan’s East Village Tuesday, and walked up to see a few folks I know from the Southern Foodways Alliance, including James Beard winner Ari Weinzweig from Zingerman’s in Ann Arbor (Big high five, Ari!)… and Randy Fertel, whose mother, Ruth Fertel started Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse… he is currently working to open an Alice Waters-inspired edible schoolyard in his native New Orleans… (another high five!)

Standing there, waiting for the place to open, and CALVIN TRILLING pulls up on his bike… he was meeting Randy and his friends for lunch, but before he could dismount, I asked for permission to have my pic taken with him…

Mr. Trillin is like the Mick Jagger of the food writing world… he’s been around a long time, and he’s still got it going on.

At this cozy spot, we all ended up sitting together, at a long wooden bar, and shared some of the terrific dishes… assorted pickled veggies, steamed buns with Berkshire pork, the outstanding shrimp and grits, baby bok choy with bacon from Allan Benton in Madisonville, Tenn., and this incredible ssam, an Asian burrito that was an explosion of exotic flavors and textures in every bite.

This was just such a thrill for me! Going to be tough to top that for a memorable meal….