Got tired of working and spent a quiet Sunday evening walking along Sheepshead Bay. Whenever I wonder why I live in Brooklyn, a short bus ride to the waterfront reminds me. Today, the swans were out in all their glory. A few sea gulls tried to pass, but they weren’t fooling anyone except maybe one couple who pointed out the “ducks” to their child. Maybe they were fixated on the Ugly Duckling.
I walked the length of the Bay and saw tired, sunburned passengers disembarking from a day of fishing. Couldn’t tell if they’d caught anything. A huge wedding party filled Baku Palace, an enormous Russian catering hall. Diners sat outside along Emmons Avenue enjoying Greek seafood, sushi, Thai and Chinese food. The tables outside Dessert Palace were filled with couples sipping slurppies or enjoying gelato and espresso.
I made my way to Roll N Roaster, still the best roast beef sandwich anywhere. Exciting new item – sweet potato fries!
Ambled back along the Bay and stopped for gelato. Six loud, loud, loud wild parrots (no picture – they move too fast!) flew overhead.
Yeah, Brooklyn has it’s great moments.
There’s music all over the place in New York City this summer – and much of it is free.
Check out the River to River Festival for everything from drumming circles and folk to movies and dancing.
Lincoln Center Out of Doors provides a wide range of musical events in August including a tribute to James Brown, Noche Flamenca and the 25th Annual Roots of American Music.
About.com has a pretty complete list of free music here, although you’ll need to go here if you want to see what’s happening in Brooklyn. You’ve missed Frankie Valle, but Liza Minelli arrives in August, along with Caribbean music and an evening of Motown.
Want free theater or movies instead? The Parks Department has a schedule.
It’s summer – get out there!
My Restaurant Week adventure is over for this summer and I’m overjoyed with all my choices. Each of the three restaurants treated us like valued guests. Each provided a menu that didn’t look like a list of second-rate choices. And each, in its own way, was exceptional.
Park Avenue Summer was beautiful. The menu was inventive. The serviced was attentive. And the portions were large. My salmon tartar was an enormous log of the freshest salmon and tomatoes over a creamy foam. The herb grilled chicken was tender, juicy and also huge. The accompanying pasta formed mysterious closed loops. What made the experience extraordinary for me was that, even though I had mistakenly given my companion the wrong time, the maitre d’ assured me that we would be seated no matter how late she arrived. And, since by the nest Restaurant Week, this will be Park Avenue Winter – a whole new restaurant – I can go back without breaking my “no repeats” rule.
My dinner at Butter was also wonderful. The service was cheerful but uneven. The excellence of the food more than compensated for any service lapses, though. Zucchini blossoms were greaseless, crisp, filled with wonderfully sharp cheese, and accompanied by two beautifully grilled slices of summer squash and a puree of curried winter squash. The cavatappi pasta with spicy lamb sausage and yellow tomato sauce had a flavor so intense – and delicious – that I came very close to licking the plate. My companion’s cod was moist and flaky and nestled in a bed of an equally incredible sauce. We both sat there grinning.
My final choice for the week was Centro Vinoteca. Every inch of this tiny restaurant is used in such a way that the space seems much larger than it is. Although we lingered well after all the other lunch guests were gone, no one rushed us in any way. We both started with a selection of piccolini. The zucchini fritters melted in my mouth. The conversation was so intense that all I can remember about the main course is that it was delicious. When both of us indicated that we didn’t want the remaining desert selection on the Restaurant Week menu, our server found an excellent alternative for us. I finished lunch with some of the best coffee I’ve ever had – and it was accompanied by warm milk – a touch appreciated by even me (I never touch the stuff).
What all three restaurants had in common was the ability to impress us. Coach Thomas Leonard often said, “Under-promise and over-deliver.” That’s exactly what I experienced this week.
Twice a year many of New York City’s great restaurants have a window of opportunity for those of us whose dining dreams may be larger than our dining budget. Restaurant Week, now actually two weeks long, is a marvelous way to work your way through your favorite 100 Best Restaurants list.
This year, I went straight to Open Table and booked three great meals. For me, this is a way to connect with friends, treat someone to a special meal, and test drive really incredible places.
This year, for my first adventure, I’m having a joint birthday lunch at Park Avenue Summer, recognized by the New York Times, New York Magazine and New York Observer as one of the best new restaurants. The decor and the menu change four times a year.
Next, I’ll be meeting a good friend for dinner at Butter. I’ve been intrigued by Chef Alexandra Guarnaschelli ever since I saw her on the Food Network. Besides, she’s a CUNY graduate!
Finally, I’m taking a former student to lunch to celebrate her recent doctorate. We’re exploring a recent addition to the Batali-Bastianich empire - CentroVinoteca.
Restaurant Weeks past have sometimes been mixed blessings. Portions were smaller than usual, the menu was boring, or staff ignored us. Most of the time, though, we’ve been treated as valued guests and I’ve added several finds to my special occasion full price list (but that’s another post).
If you’re in Manhattan or can get there, there are still tables left. Treat yourself!
Oh – and a bonus recommendation for foodies – or at least Food Network fans. Turns out there’s a blog for addicts - Food Network Addict.
It’s summer and heirloom tomatoes are beginning to show up in the Greenmarket. As I make my Saturday morning pilgrimage, there is, of course, a Gershwin tune running through my head.
At a meeting this week, I was delighted to discover that I’m not the only one who sings “You say tomato and I say tomato,” rather than I say tomahto.” Even better, the whole group burst into song!
Whatever you call them, just add salt and pepper, maybe a drizzle of olive oil or a bit of vinegar, and enjoy the season.
I wanted a nice pre-theater dinner so I wandered into Le Rivage Saturday night. That they actually found a table for me was miraculous. Within 20 minutes of my arrival, there wasn’t a single empty table.
I was instantly transported back to the 60’s and my very first theater district experience. There were a number of inexpensive French restaurants back then. The two I remember best – Pierre au Tunnel and Rene Pujol – are gone now; one perhaps decades ago, the other just last year. It doesn’t seem like there’s much demand for the sort of formal and perhaps formulaic meals they served. That Le Rivage has survived is testament to both a good chef and a tremendous amount of front-of-the-house attention to detail.
I felt welcomed from the moment I walked in. The maitre d’, who, I assume, is also the owner, treated me beautifully, suggesting a wine he thought I would enjoy and stopping by to chat a few times. The food was excellent. In my nostalgia, I ordered a classic duck l’orange. It was prepared perfectly – crisp skin, not a drop of fat beneath, and moist interior.
I watched other guests greeted as old friends and careful attention paid to each diner. Yes, it cost more that the $5 or so of my past, but then, so does everything. The meal was a great value and the feeling of comfort, warmth and care was priceless.
A spokeswoman for the chain’s Southwest region said select restaurants in the region will get McCafé coffee shops prior to the national roll-out, which is expected in the first half of 2009. McDonald’s is also testing McCafé kiosks in airports and other locations outside the U.S., said its spokeswoman.
Ahhh… that special blended aroma of grease and espresso. How could we have lived this long without it? Check www.mymccafe.com to see when one is coming to your neighborhood.
This story comes to you courtesy of New Mexico Business Weekly, via www.bizjournals.com.
And to think that Starbuck’s is cutting back on franchises ….
Sardinia is a little lower-key than some of the other places I’ve visited in Italy. It’s also poorer than some. The island has a history of being conquered and was heavily bombed during World War II. Despite this, the island is beautiful. The beaches are inviting and residents spend as much time as possible soaking up the sunshine.
Small market stands were a frequent sight in the neighborhood where I stayed. This one had inventive stands created from old tree trunks – a driftwood feel to the construction.
Our guide was very proud of the jacaranda trees. Their vibrant color lined the streets of Cagliari.
Who will run Chef Ramsey’s new restaurant at the end of Hell’s Kitchen? Who will win the Food Network Challenges? Will the Iron Chef be defeated? I’ve been out all day in the heat and humidity having meaningful meeting with clients. I need serious dreck! Private moments on national television. Drama. Tears, even.
Are you a Design Star? Or will you identify with a tearful Michael, whose exit line is, “I just want my mother.”
Why wait for the Olympics – there are plenty of competitions out there. Summer TV is full of totally mindless moments – competitions of every sort for those evenings when you just can’t spare a single brain cell for anything important. Kick back with an iced tea or your beverage of choice and root for the underdog.
Who has Shear Genius? And wait – Project Runway will be back soon!
Recent Comments