Category: Restaurants

Posted on

Upper West Side Trek

photo 3-3Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Full circle. Things happen. Times change. Downtown reigns. Back again.  photo 2-4

The Mermaid Inn. Jackson Hole. Elizabeth’s Table. Momoya. All wonderful in their own ways. Vibrant, fresh, friendly.

Hotels are a test. NYLO pet-friendly. Allergy hell. After a night of 3 pills and a sock over my face, had to check out, but full refund. Last minute respite at old fave Excelsior Hotel . One suite left. No pets, no sprays. Good night’s sleep. Yay.

And you never know who you’ll run into at Tarallucci. A cool cat who should get a modeling gig. Jobs are good. IMG_0289

Posted on

Got Away

Three ferries to the Hamptons. Only way to go. Last minute availability on our favorite plage. Left Northampton at 9am. On the beach in Amagansett at 2pm. photo-90

Stayed until sunset. Last cocktail with the seashore to ourselves. Bliss. photo-87Steamed lobster at perennial ClamBar. Breakfast at Bird on the Roof in Montauk. Crêpes and crispy bacon. A real roly poly pig in the middle of the road in the pouring rain. What?! Quite the sight. Shelter island ferries back again after a few fun days. Lunch by the dock at Blue Canoe in Greeport. Miso encrusted cod rivaled Nobu standards. Spicy mussels, too.

DSC_0044Stopped for a tasting at Kontokosta Winery on the way to Orient Point-New London ferry. Rosés in tow. Ready to go. Another great spur of the moment getaway.DSC_0040

Posted on

Park Folie

photo-66

Saturday in the Park. PopUp Piano Man. Warm sun.
Pure Joy. Outdoor tables ready and waiting.

Shake Shack opens.
Crowds soon gather.
Can Spring be far behind?

photo-68photo-63

MadisonPark Onze it. Quatorze–course tasting adventure.
Pricey. Priceless.

Grilled lobster lunch with friends at ABC Kitchen.
Specially good.

Roasted octopus, striped bass downtown at Colicchio and Sons.
Delectable.

Memories of a Mad March Birthday Weekend. Indelible.
Folie en food.

Posted on

DecEmbers

Mandela center stage. Recall writing policy at Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco 1980’s. Consulted with Laura Tyson at UC Berkeley to apply Sullivan Principles to multi-national clients. California was a leader in anti-apartheid sanctions. Seems forever ago.

Flipping over to live Sound of Music on NBC last night. Morbid curiosity. Stilted acting, cheesy sets, bad singing. If it wasn’t an SNL skit, it should be.

Sightings… Joan Rivers in white ermine at Twelfth Night on Broadway…mAdBen rave reviews for Mark Rylance as Olivia…CandyPants at Yankee Candle in Deerfield…what?…JeanJean dipping roast beef sandwich at Farm Table in Bernardston…holiday oddities. Bon Sinter Klaas weekend.

Posted on

Hampshire Life

RomneyCare working in the BayState. Not nationally. Obama made the case for small government last week. Bloated bureaucracy of federal agencies cannot handle complex programs. Should have gone to private sector tech at the outset. Oops. Merry Christmas, Republicans.

Had dinner in newly renovated Lord Jeffrey Inn on the Amherst Green. Outdoor areas with fireplaces. Chic interior. Fun evening with great friends. Martin Sandler’s new book is an epistolary compilation which tells JFK’s story better than any bio. Sandler taught history at both Smith College and UMass.

Lady Gaga has talent. Too bad she squanders it with copycat twerky SNL stint. Homeland looks to be taking a more interesting turn tonight. Finally. Bon week.

Posted on

Quests de Cuisine

As holidays approach, a renewed interest in gift collectibles. Amazon is offering several ways to buy Table’s Edge. All hardcover with photos and illustrations. A nostalgic nod to Pioneer Valley’s culinary history. Tales of creative chefs who came to Paradise City from all over the world. CookBook, too. Their timeless recipes. For more information, check it out here at tablesedge.com.

Meanwhile, in Manhattan the dining scene continues to evolve. One of our faves, Ciano is now CucinaCiano, moved from Flatiron to Upper East Side. Over on York & 73rd, a hole-in-the-wall has become the hottest spot for fish flown in daily from Japan. Tanoshi has 10 seats, so plan ahead. Snow in NYC today. None here!

Posted on

Forking Around

New London to Orient Point Ferry Cross Sound. Our circular tour around Long Island’s North and South Forks. Lunched at BlueCanoe on Greenport’s dock. Fried local oysters. Took scenic Route 25 past wineries reminiscent of Napa in the early ’80’s, before they jammed the valley and the byways. To Peconic Lane, and NorthFound, a trove of treasures from around the globe.

Drove down to Riverhead and up the South Fork through the Hamptons to our perennial beachfront haunt in Napeague. Favorite Clam Bar was almost blown away by a violent thunder storm the day we arrived, and we found it closed. Oh no! But, next morning all was well. IMG_0703Several days of perfect weather, lobster, little necks fresh from the sea. Had to end sometime. Took three ferries from Sag Harbor to Shelter Island to Greenport back to Cross Sound. It sure was fun forking around.

Posted on

Old New York

Back from a quick round trip. Headed downtown. High-summer fare on Washington Square in Old Greenwich Village. Blue Hill. Not as good as last time. Shockingly short on seasonal produce. Otto Enoteca, Italian train station pizzeria. Gone is the elegant One Fifth, art deco ship’s bar of yesteryear.

New York in the 1860’s, BBC’s second season of Copper is a good one. Five Points, what is now lower Manhattan in the days leading up to Lincoln’s assassination. Corrupt cops, spies, slavery, counterfeiters. Mount Holyoke’s Czitrom historical consultant. Better than Newsroom. Watch that on a different day, as well as Masterpiece’s Endeavour. Sunday nights chock full of choices.

Great reads about old New Amsterdam from 1600’s to the Civil War~ City of Dreams, Beverly Swerling. HeyDay, Kurt Andersen. Downtown, Pete Hamill.

Posted on

May Ville

photo-29May in New York. Sunny and seventies? No. Friday was beautiful, though. Supper al fresco on Park Avenue South.

Then over to the Lunt Fontanne for Motown. Berry Gordy’s homage to himself. For good reason. He merged music and ethnic cultures. Changed society.  Jesse Nager & Co. entertained with lightning talent and costume changes. All the hits. Dancin’ in the aisles. A really fun show. photo-26

Maysville on 5th & 26th. Bourbon bar? Yes. The food is the real reason to go. After the Derby or the Preakness, this is a Saturday culinary winner. And Dr.Husband did love the whiskey. Atlantic Grill was a Sunday cluster-brunch. But, Betsey’s Tipsy Donuts were born. Powdered sugar. Familial giggles.