Category Archives: Eating, Drinking

covo

captured outside sidewalk at covo trattoria

Tucked away in Harlem,  Covo Trattoria and wine bar is housed in an old railroad station under the rumbling Henry Hudson Parkway.  An easy 25 minute bike ride from the apartment with nice views of the Hudson River…spring has definitely sprung!

**Will be reporting in from Stockholm, Sweden for the next ten days so stay tuned!**

 

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a tale of bong hits and oysters

Oh…Desnuda…I’m lusting after you…

As if you’re entering a bordello…the decor is sultry, sensual, intoxicating…intimate and small…oh yes, very small.

But behind the bar another story unfolds as this is no ordinary restaurant.  There is no kitchen, just a popcorn popper, a hot plate, small fridge, toaster oven and microwave scattered throughout the work space.  Oh and the bong.

Chef Christian Zammas reminds me of a street artist.  He brings his performance art up close and personal for his audience.

the master (chef zammas) at desnuda in the east village

Right at the bar he prepares his bong with some kind of tea leaves and peppercorns, lights it on fire and then catches the smoke in small glasses and seals it over each individual raw oyster.  While waiting a minute for the smoke to permeate the oyster…popcorn, direct from the popcorn popper, appears.   Not just any popcorn.  This is popcorn drizzled in truffle oil.  Yes, you read it right.  Drizzled in truffle oil.  You lift the glass, inhale as the small stream of smoke is released and then slurp the oyster down.

Simple instructions: Inhale, shoot and enjoy.

Yes, popcorn drizzled in truffle oil.  I’m still lusting over it…

This tiny cevicheria located in the East Village will entice you, seduce you and make you want more.  So many ceviche dishes to come back and try…and it doesn’t hurt to have Butter Lane cupcakes on the same street especially when boxes of cupcakes are given out as they closed their doors for the night!

Then there was a stop a few blocks over at Via della Pace….but that’s a gastronomic story for another day…

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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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