Category Archives: Eating, Drinking

the new york times on sunday

Sleeping in after a late night, I was motivated to finally get up by the calling of a latte and almond croissant at Patisserie Margot.  After a nice, slow, ease into it, read the paper kind of day…I thought about it and decided I would pass up the croissant…

So I went to Cafe deux Margot and had the nutella and strawberry crepes instead!

Sunday NY Times in NYC

the upper west side, nyc

 

Cafe deux margot, upper west side, nyc

cafe deux margot, upper west side, nyc

 And then I walked for two hours…

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totally clueless

Joanne Trattoria NYC

captured at the bar - joanne trattoria nyc

Often ignorance is bliss and last night was one of those times.

Having walked in the rain from the Howard Greenberg Gallery to see the Vivian Maier exhibit, a cozy bar to duck into was in order to cut the chill. Something close to 25 Central Park West as the next stop was to attend the PWP’s opening reception, 22 imaginings.  But before I continue, let me tell you a little about both of these events.  First, if you aren’t familiar with Vivian Maier’s work, her photography was recently discovered by a young man (John Maloof) in Chicago.  He came across thousands of rolls of film, prints and negatives of Vivian’s work at a local auction house.  These images were shared with virtually no one in her lifetime.  She was a master of self-portraits and concentrated mainly on children, women, the elderly and the indigent.  Her photography is just incredible.  There’s only a few days left of her exhibit here in the city, so if you’re in the area this is a must see.  Now on to the Cuba exhibit.  Exhibits at 25CPW are always enjoyable and the images captured by 22 incredible photographers’ journey to Cuba did not disappoint. A great space to showcase photography, but very intimate as well.  The talent in this group is mind blowing and I’m so happy to be a member!

OK, now its time to go to the ignorance is bliss part.  There’s a small red awning located on West 68th Street with Joanne written on it.  A glance through the window revealed a warm cozy atmosphere.  Yep, exactly what’s needed to take the chill away.  A grey goose on the rocks fit the bill, and Zack our bartender was excellent with his pour(s).  While chatting, a woman approaches and introduces herself as Cynthia and offers to give us a tour of the restaurant.  Not realizing it upon entry, the restaurant wasn’t officially open yet. Just the bar was “open” and she was so eager to showcase the adorable outside back patio, the chef’s table for private dining, as well as make introductions to the chef and others.  Local, small, warm, a good pour at the bar and a wood fired oven in the kitchen immediately told me a return visit was in order.

So imagine my surprise this morning when I checked out their website (which is still in the works) and made the connection.  This is the restaurant that is owned by Lady Gaga’s parents. Cynthia is her mother.  I am so happy for the ignorance part.  It made the introduction so much more exciting AFTER connecting the dots!  Absolutely, a return visit is in order and if last night’s experience is any indication as to their future success, I can tell you Lady Gaga herself is NOT needed here.  Her parents have it going on! So happy to have this restaurant in the hood here in the Upper West Side.  Stay tuned for a future review!

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the sanctuary in phoenix, arizona

Tranquility Awaits…

What a perfect marketing phrase for the Sanctuary, an amazing boutique resort perched on Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale, Arizona.

I’d only been to the Sanctuary for a wedding once and then drinks with friends, but never for an amazing dinner by the Iron Chef America winner and Food Network star Chef Beau MacMillan.

In the first photo if you look close, you’ll see the Praying Monk in the background (the formation resembles the silhouette of a man kneeling in prayer) made of red sandstone and often used for rock climbing. So if you’re visiting, catching the light from the sunset on Camelback Mountain is exquisite and one for the memory books, just like ALL Arizona sunsets!

Ahh…nothing like the desert in the winter!

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laduree on madison

My first macaron experience was a number of years ago in a little shop in Paris called Laduree. Now quite honestly…it’s not really my kind of sweet. However, a friend was visiting from Sweden and she happens to be a macaron lover and adores Laduree. So to surprise her, I headed over to the Upper East Side and entered their cute little shop on Madison Avenue. What? No wait? Perhaps because I got there right at opening time, as I’d read the line forms around the block with expected wait times of 30 to 45 minutes just to enter. Very parisian, in pale green with lots of mirrors and dark wood…adorable! And yes, she was very surprised and loved them!

Check it out the next time you’re in the neighborhood!

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a visual treat at rolf’s bar and restaurant

Small, cramped, expensive?

Garish, excessive decorations?

All true, but what a Christmas tradition! My second year enjoying the explosion of lights and decorations at Rolf’s in the Gramercy area of Manhattan.

Did I mention lights? How about 80,000 of them, way more than what’s on the Rockefeller Center tree! Filled with apple-cheeked dolls and figurines nestled in the miles of garland and glittery balls…guaranteed to get you in the holiday spirit!

So cozy on up at the bar and share in a weihenstephaner or two or three!

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meet bal

…now meet taxi cab driver – Bal – from India! (Thank god that party animal from Arizona is on her way home! Safe travels my dear!)

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meet mohammed

After a night at Lucky Strike in Soho and the Cubbyhole Bar in the West Village…one absolutely needs a taxi driver named Mohammed (from Queens via Casablanca, Morocco) to drive one home! Fun, fun, fun!

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crumbs

Thanks mom for making me a red velvet cake with red raspberries…it will accompany me back to NYC as it’s firmly attached to my ass. xoxo

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la birreria

Blood sausage and a ice cold locally brewed beer? Well the sausage isn’t at the top of my list, BUT I do love a cold beer once in a while and I really really love rooftop bars. I’ve been dying to check out La Birreria on the rooftop (15th floor) of the infamous food bazaar, Eataly, located in the Flatiron district of Manhattan.

So much to explain. Let’s start with Eataly. It deserves it’s own (future) post so one must return and spend a few hours photographing it to better explain. So stay tuned. But in short, it’s an Italian gastronomical, orgasmatic food bazaar. Brainchild of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich. Just happen to recognize Mario’s name as he’s the chef/owner of my FAVORITE Italian restaurant in Manhattan called Babbo Ristorante e Enoteca. For those of you in LA and Las Vegas you too can enjoy his Italian creations. But heads up, reservations are needed a month in advance.

But back to La Birreria. A touch disappointed in the views, as many articles described it as one of the best in the city. But with it’s glass (retractable) roof in the shadow of the Empire State Building and the Flatiron building it will be incredible with a cold beer during a snow storm!

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an historical event on the upper west side

Fairway, one of the many neighborhood grocery stores to choose from in the hood, is open 24 hours a day…365 days a year. Until Hurricane Irene.

Closed this morning at 10:00 to allow their employees time to get home before the MTA shut down. Bet this is the first time since 1954!

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