Happy New Year!

2008 will mark the 6th year of the existence of Salli Vates' NY Food Page. I may plan some sort of party... details will be forthcoming!

In the meantime, my companion and I will celebrate the New Year with toshikoshi (passing year) soba. Since the Edo period, people in Japan have eaten these long, thin noodles to promote long life and prosperity.

Naturally, I'm not going to make these noodles myself. I reserved them at Soba-Ya! (If you're still scrambling around wondering what you are going to eat tonight, you have until 7 p.m. to pick up a box of fresh soba for two people, including wasabi, broth, chopped scallions and soba-boiling instructions.)

Soba-Ya: 229 East 9th St., (212) 533-6966.