May Day and all I can think about is the end of the month. Help me!
I’m making a trip to New York City the end of May and already I’m relishing the endless food possibilities:
The hands down winner for pastrami, or corned beef, for that matter, is Katz’s Deli on Houston street. 
There’s a subway stop just one block away, so no need to take a cab from uptown. Subtly flavored and not too lean, the pastrami is melt-in-your-mouth good. They have great matzo ball soup, too…and egg creams. And the salt only bright green pickles are unlike anything you’ll every pull from a jar.
Unlike other NYC deli’s, Katz’s is proud of their food, not themselves. They are the “real deal”.
Another favorite: Lupa. 
One of Mario Batalli’s contributions, Lupa serves up fabulous Roman-style Italian fare. Try the escarole salad with walnuts and red onions, or let the waiter select an antipasto assortment for you: salumi, olives, roman artichokes and marinated beets. 
Bacala, a salt cod preparation is fabulous and truely Roman…and the tuna with cannelini beans couldbe lunch for me. My entree favorite? Bavette, a long, round thick noodle, Cacio & Pepe,
is the quintessential Roman dish…pasta lightly dressed with golden olive oil, cracked pepper and pecorino cheese.
Tried and true french for me is always bistro food. 
La Goulue on Madison, upper east side, is a place to which I always return. It matches the bussle of a Paris restaurant, is never stuffy though it’s often filled with blue-haired ladies at luchnch, and the food it typically french but never haute. Roast chicken, steak frites, 
profiteroles….
Hungry yet? Can I wait until the end of May?