Resilient Roses and Warming Wontons

January outliers on the one hand, and seasonal comforts on the other.

January roses - lovely, but not normal. The pale pink was from a tree bed in front of my building on Tuesday; the deep, near-red one was from a tree bed near my office yesterday morning - both before yesterday evening's bitter cold, so I don't know what they are like now. Poor roses were confused by how temperate it's been. Perhaps in time they'll adapt, or we'll need to breed different roses that can survive the weather whiplash we are unleashing. Snow is coming to the north and west; here in the city, our streak without is forecasted to continue.

What IS normal, and tasty, for January cold are spicy sauce adorned spinach and mushroom wontons ... 

A bit like an unopened rose, no? Sorta?

... and, especially, steamy vegetarian udon (spiked with Sriracha) from Vanessa's Dumpling House, ... 

 

... with the pancake sandwich on the side. 

First time there since they opened up in the neighborhood, and it hit the right notes on this past cold evening. We'll be back, especially since they have a faux beef option that I haven't tried yet. Very gratified to find more and more vegetarian and vegan options nearby, and mixed in with meated options so I can still dine in the same space as meat-eating folks - like, say, my whole family (me, too, when Mama Hen serves it, and under some specific exceptions; it's about balance, trying to get closer to achieving my ideals in a way that doesn't compromise quality of life so that it all can be sustained, and stick).