tribeca is so lucky!

i had a delicious meal last night at locanda verde. kudos to andrew carmellini who i think is super talented... everything was pretty perfect: bustling scene on a tuesday night, a beautiful bar (with great lighting), amazing food, and good service. i even liked the women's restroom!

i discovered last weekend that my favorite bartender, naren young, left bobo and has since taken over the entire cocktail program at locanda verde... what luck! so we started with cocktails which were all amazing. i even continued with cocktails through dinner, which is generally my preference when i know the drinks will be good.

our server gave us a rundown of the family-style menu, and we ordered a fair amount of food... we definitely wanted a sampling. we started with the lamb meatballs that had yummy pickles and were juicy, perfect. then two cicchetti, which she described as 4-5 bite servings, the blue crab crostini and cotechino sausage crostini. even my S.O., who doesn't like seafood generally, enjoyed the blue crab crostini! it was definitely a standout.

our next course included the burrata, a cheese that i ADORE, and the autumn salad which was my favorite type of salad full of radicchio, endive, hazelnuts and fatty pieces of speck, mmmm. my S.O. doesn't do veggies really, but i passed him some of the speck, which he appreciated.

for pastas, we only ordered 2 originally, but after we finished we needed to order another because they were so good. my grandmother's ravioli - stuffed with veal, pork and beef - was deemed by my S.O. as the best ravioli he's ever had. the tomato sauce was perfectly flavored - it was well-balanced and although i haven't had the red sauce at scarpetta, i bet locanda verde's would hold its own. the stracci with wild boar ragu was like thick shorter pappardelle, and even my S.O. went in for seconds and commented on how delish it was. i noted a blue cheese aftertaste that worked well with the dish, but i don't know if i'd order it again. our 3rd, last-minute pasta was the pumpkin agnolotti with a brown butter sage sauce... how can you go wrong? it was seasonal and so tasty, and we used the leftover bread to sop up the sauce. (note: the bread was just ok.)

for our secondi, we went with the highly lauded garlic chicken for 2 and the veal cheeks. i don't even like chicken, and i thought it was super flavorful. i only ate the drumsticks because i'm a dark meat girl, but i had the leftover white meat chicken today, and although a touch dry, as chicken breasts tend to be, the flavor was intensely garlic. but the real standout were the veal cheeks - i love the tender meat, over a perfect risotto milanese... another dish that i licked clean. a side of roasted brussels sprouts with chunks of pancetta and grated pecorino rounded out our vegetable-less meal; i love brussels sprouts, and these were no exception.

we even went for dessert because all of the dishes were so successful, i couldn't stop myself. i loved everything - the affogato, which is my favorite italian dessert, but the mascarpone gelato was a perfect twist; i was blown away by the pistachio brown butter cake with huckleberries; and the 3 flavors of gelati - rice custard, brown butter and caramel were all yummy. my S.O. is an ice cream guy, so we had to try them all.

overall, one of the better meals i've had in quite a while! for sure i'll be returning for cocktails AND food.

locanda verde
377 greenwich street at north moore
new york, ny 10013
212/925-3797

U2 ROCKS!

as a joint birthday gift for me and herself, my older sister brought me to the U2 360 concert at giants stadium on wed, 9/23/09. my last concert was in 2001 for the elevation tour; i had tickets for the vertigo tour, but was on my deathbed-ill and couldn't attend. after wednesday's show, i'm sad i missed the vertigo show, and even sadder that i only attended one show from this tour.

the only downside was taking NJ transit to the show. every email advised that it would be smart to take NJ transit, so that's what we did. what a nightmare! NJ transit was completely unprepared for the 60,000 riders heading to the show. it took us 2 hours to get there, and 2 hours to get back. CRAZY.



U2 are amazing performers, and this show was like a throwback concert - tons of old stuff. it was so good, that i'm trying to figure out how i can get to the LA show on 10/25/09 - with black-eyed peas! how good will that be?!

my sister rocks for taking me to U2!! here's the set list from the show!

what happened to country? (restaurant now closed)

i'm bad at blogging. i check email, facebook, weather everyday, but blogging hasn't become part of my routine. and when i actually think to post something, i can't access my blog (china). i know i should just jot things down somewhere, but i don't.

facebook has/had this application 'My Restaurants' that i really liked. it said it was shutting down, but i'm not sure if it has. i don't really use facebook apps all that much, besides posting photos. but i liked 'My Restaurants'. in fear of losing all my posts, i copied them, and i'll add them periodically on my blog. like now, when i haven't posted in ages, but don't have time to write anything.

june 21, 2009
after country had just opened, my S.O. & i visited the main dining room with gary danko and met doug psaltis (chef de cuisine) and geoffrey zakarian. since then, we've wanted to dine in the formal dining room. when we finally had an occasion to check it out, we made a reservation, and it turns out the formal dining room has been shut down, and the cafe downstairs has become the only restaurant. the restaurant was pretty empty when we arrived (7pm, summer saturday), and the acoustics were so poor that even though only one table was occupied, it sounded like the restaurant was jam-packed full. i couldn't decide between the prix fixe menu or ordering a la carte, but when our server (who enunciated every single word, it was so irritating) highly recommended the spicy tuna tartare and the seared scallops, i opted to go a la carte with her recos. BAD IDEA. the tuna tartare was flavorless (certainly not spicy), the cepes in the scallops were mushy, and the scallops were a touch overcooked.

we also ordered chicken wings from the bar menu, and for $12, you'd think 5 wings would be phenomenal, but even the blue cheese dipper was bland. although my S.O.'s sweet corn soup starter was quite, his delicious lobster ravioli was ok - at least there were lobster pieces - that said, the lobster meat was stringy and not tender nor succulent. the thai broth was average, not like gary danko's thai seafood curry, which is phenomenal, but at least there was a hint of thai flavor. the french fries, measly as they were, were crispy and good, but for $9 for maybe 25 french fries, i was disappointed. finally, dessert: we went with the banana crisp, and there was nothing crisp about it. plus the chocolate sauce was burnt.

i really like the space. i love the bar in the center of the restaurant, and i'd love to throw a party there, but i'd also like to have it catered. by anyone else. [note: someone else had the same idea, because according to my sister, there was a line out the door late-night that same night.]

i also need to wire the server's mouth shut. she obviously has no taste in food. she didn't know the cocktails on the menu. she had to review the wine list to look for a bottle of rose (because when i couldn't find one, i asked if there was one, and she was like, 'there must be,' and then came back with the one bottle they serve by the glass that's not included on their wine list). basically a worthless server. when she asked if we wanted coffee, we said no, but she continued to list the entire starbucks coffee menu - cappucino, latte, americano, macchiato, et al.

while the kentucky cocktail and the tequila cocktail were tasty, even the bread was stale. and the butter was hard & cold.

we're never going back.

The Cafe at Country
90 madison ave, SW corner of 29th st
new york, ny 10016
212/889.7100

the crane is no fairmont mayakoba

i have a confession: i'm addicted to solo vacations.

after my amazing trip to mexico in march, i realized that solo vacays are the pinnacle of relaxation. my general day goes like this: wake up (when i want); get moving (when i want); go to the gym (when i want, for as long as i want); go to the pool/beach (when i want, for as long as i want - i'm a sun goddess, so that's usually a long time); eat (if i want); go back to the gym (if i want); do some work (with no one complaining about it); take a long bath or shower; and sleep (when i want). you'll notice a trend: it's all about ME.

don't get me wrong; i love to vacay with my S.O. more importantly, i appreciate that he works very hard and that his schedule isn't as flexible as mine, so i try be more catering to him and his needs on our vacations. but does catering to someone else's needs really sound like a vacay? exactly.

since that mexico mini-break, i've been plotting out my next solo vacay, and in april i decided BARBADOS. the flight was direct and inexpensive. the weather was still supposed to be perfect (even though it was the beginning of the off-season). and i've never been to barbados, so why not?

i researched hotels from the day i purchased my flight until last week, when i booked a hotel very last-minute... in this down-market, hotel prices are dropping insanely, and in a matter of 2-3 weeks, the price of one that i was eyeing fell by $60/night. that was convincing enough for me to book.

i chose the crane because it was recommended as a luxury hotel by travel & leisure, conde nast traveler and a bunch of other websites and travel agents. it also won a 10 best beaches accolade from lifestyles of the rich & famous.

my trip was wednesday through sunday (i scheduled an extra day for this trip compared to MX) and as promised, perfect weather. sunny, balmy, 88 degrees. every day.

here's my trip in a nutshell:
-getting off the flight, there was no jetway; it was one of those outdoor gates where you climb down the stairs. not easy with a roller bag, backpack and a big purse. note: next time, check luggage, unless you have a porter (or if i come with my S.O.).
-my blackberry didn't work. probably a good thing. i could receive SMS and calls, just not emails.
-the crane hotel is super close to the airport so take a cab, it'll cost about US$15. if you plan to do things, rent a car. people drive on the left side of the road and the steering wheel is on the right side. just so you know.
-the beach is rough because this beach is on the ocean. i don't do rough beaches.
-this hotel is supposed to be luxury, and it does look nice. but don't be fooled - the service is nothing like the fairmont mayakoba. if it weren't a recession, i'd be at the fairmont royal pavilion in barbados (i'm not so loaded that i'd be at sandy lane).
-there's no lunch service at the main pool. the other pool complex has lunch service, but only from the carriage house bar & grill, which has a very limited menu. the restaurant l'azure should deliver food to the pool; they're not that busy.
-the room service menu sucks.
-there's a great gourmet shop, cutter's (think dean & deluca, but smaller-scale), about 10 minutes (walking) outside the crane hotel. take a right out of the entrance. it's on the left. great sandwiches. much less expensive than the crane's less than stellar sandwiches.
-there's also a fruit stand if you walk left out the entrance of the hotel. it's a small stand, but there's fruit. and the general shop at the crane has tons of junk food, but no fruit.
-the fitness centre sucks. fortunately there was an arc trainer, since i can't do the treadmill due to my ankle injury (yes, it's still injured). but there are no free weights. no mats. no stability balls. there isn't even room for any of those things. there isn't even a MIRROR. that's a problem.
-the hotel rooms are actually kinda nice (four-poster bed, dark wooden furniture, big stone-tiled bathroom with jacuzzi tub and separate shower), but there's no adjustable air-conditioning. it goes on, but you have no choice on temperature, and it's not really cold. and the TV... it doesn't swivel out, so you can only watch from bed. the clock never worked, even after i tried to fix it (i didn't complain - i'm on vacay, how badly do i need to know the time?). the mini-frig isnt cold enough. the toilet smells as though it's not flushing properly.

fortunately, i don't require much on solo vacay. i gymmed every morning after waking up and doing a little work. i showered, sunblocked and went to the pool for most of the day. i walked to cutter's and grabbed a sandwich after i rinsed post-pool. i ate in my room as i did more work. i tried to do pilates, but since i couldn't see the screen from any spot in the room that wasn't the bed, it was pretty impossible to keep up. and i took long luxurious baths.

the service was far from impeccable, but everyone here and that i've encountered in barbados is super friendly. take the owner of cutter's, who happened to be working on my 2nd visit - he and his wife (Roger & Kim Goddard) started the place, and have been around since the 80s. they only serve yummy things. their hot sauce (with the flying fish cutter) is delicious. the ham looks super tasty. and the rum punch... yums. i have a crush on cutter's.

i would like to return here with my S.O. - he'd like to do a rum tour, drive around, we'd stay on the west coast for calmer beaches, and i could try some barbadian food - grilled or fried flying fish with rice and peas. and i want to do the friday night oisten's fish fry. i could've done it this weekend, but it's my solo vacay... i didn't feel like talking to anyone.

the crane resort
st. philip, barbados
246/423.6220

cutter's of barbados
st. philip, barbados
246/423.0611

sushi yasuda v. kuruma zushi

since i sprained my ankle in china, my mom and i had to cancel our new mexican mother's day golf holiday, and instead, she made an impromptu trip to NYC. it was a busy nine days... you see, my mom is a total MOM: she's very smothering and caring, and she's more concerned for your welfare than her own. in many rights, it's amazing. but in a small new york apartment, it can get a little cramped with someone like my mom.

my favorite restaurant in manhattan is sushi yasuda, so i always take her there for the magical experience. but after we had dinner there tuesday, i found myself looking for a lunch meal later that week. for lunch we usually go to sasabune on the UES or shimizu in hell's kitchen, but i thought this time we'd switch it up. i've been meaning to try kuruma zushi for some time, but had never had the occasion (as a yasuda devotee, i inevitably ended up there). finally, i found one.

we sat at the sushi bar for friday lunch. it's a small venue with 2 sushi chefs and an apprentice behind the bar. i imagine the chef we dealt with was chef uezu, although no introductions were made. we did an omakase - my mom started with sashimi; i went full boar beginning with sushi.

i can't tell you everything we ate, but i can tell you for sure: sushi yasuda is overall better. first, chef uezu may cut the fish (sometimes), but he has an apprentice who forms the rice. second, the slices of fish may be larger than yasuda, but the price is double (at least). third, the size of the fish didn't seem balanced to the amount of rice. fourth, the rice was undercooked. fifth, some of the fish was too cold. and FINALLY, there are many more options at yasuda. in terms of quality, there were only a few pieces that were of the same level or perhaps a tad better than yasuda; however, the kinmedai at kuruma was definitely noticeably better.

our lunch for two came to $482 (!!!) with tax & tip. no alcohol. and i didn't think we ate that much. we ate as much, if not more, at yasuda a few nights before, and total for two was $320 with tax & tip (also no alcohol).

i never thought i'd call sushi yasuda a bargain, but it's all relative.
winner, hands-down, sushi yasuda.

a very new york tasting menu

i eat a lot. but sometimes, i eat more than even i usually eat. it's usually a combination of worn-out, sleep-depraven and hungover.

before i leave for china, i like to eat an array of the foods i might not have access to while i'm there. i usually do it over a week. instead, i did this over a day. and i really got a taste of new york.

lunch... i thought i'd check out the new outpost of sandwich shop, defonte's of brooklyn. it has a great location on the corner of 21st and 3rd avenue. the doors open up to the sidewalk, which is good, because the space is narrow once you add the tables, people, etc. since it was my first time, i went classic with the nicky special (#1) - ham, provolone cheese, fried eggplant, marinated mushrooms, hot salad, zucchini, O&V, seeded italian bread. i thought it was great - a little spicy, i absolutely loved the fried eggplant. i think it's large enough for 1.5 normal eaters. when i ordered the same thing as the guy in line in front of me, he turned to me and asked me if i wanted to split the sandwich. i laughed at him.

dinner... the boyfriend of one of my besties was moving back to sydney (australia!), and he totally enjoys fine dining. what could be finer than eleven madison park? but this was an odd meal... the last 2x i had been, eleven madison park was wowing, completely spot-on, and just phenomenal. this time... i was less impressed. here's why:

1) service - previously i've been blown away by the almost overly attentive service; however, this night (a friday), it felt like amateur night. i asked twice for the purse hook, an amenity i totally appreciate at EMP and is generally offered, not asked for, and i was only remembered after one was brought for my girlfriend. we waited a painstakingly long time between 1st and 2nd courses. at one point, they'd brought our meal out, but had forgotten to replace the silverware they'd taken. our waiter suggested more bread to my S.O. but then never brought it out. we ordered cocktails, and we had to ask two different people about them after we didn't receive them for a noticeable period. and they'd obviously been sitting around because the ice had melted.

2) food - we did 2 spring tasting menus and 2 pork tasting menus with 1wine pairing for each.
spring menu
amuse bouche - cucumber smoked salmon; tart; foie gras terrine; fried sweetbread pouch
sabayon - creamy soup with sturgeon
asparagus - white asparagus and green pencil asparagus with asparagus ice cream, parmagiano reggiano and jamon iberico - outstanding, loved the ice cream
atlantic turbot - slow-cooked with spring peas, lemon thyme and olive oil - salty, overly fragrant
nova scotia lobster - poached with spring carrots and citrus sabayon - perfectly tender but unremarkable, very rich
milk fed veal - glazed with ris de veau, morel panna cotta and fava beans - unbelievable, super tender tenderloin, delicious flavor
"strawberry cheesecake" - two bubbles one with liquid cheesecake, one with strawberry, amazing - burst with flavor in your mouth
mint chocolate chip - ice cream sandwich with araguani chocolate - gross, ice cream wasnt good, the chocolate wafers had little flavor, the fresh mint was overwhelming for the subtle chocolate
mignardises - meringue cookies in 8 flavors, black sesame, black olive & white chocolate, chocolate, PB&J, lavender & chocolate, brown butter & banana - i don't remember all of them, but the olive/white chocolate combo and brown butter/banana and PB&J were my faves.

four-story hill suckling pig seasonal 5-course tasting menu
same amuse bouche
sabayon - creamy soup with ham
tete de cochon - terrine made with different parts of pig head - very yummy
pork a la francaise - braised pork belly - amazing
crispy suckling pig - same prep as their menu item in winter
rack of pork - good
same desserts, same mignardises

next time i would do the pork menu. it was really quite good, but very rich and heavy. or else i would just do the 3-course. although i'm dying to do the gourmand (chef's selection of 11 courses $175).

3) other - it was disappointing that the chef, daniel humm, didn't do the meet & greet in the dining room this time. maybe that's only a weeknight thing?
one of my favorite indulgences that eleven madison provides are the two types of butter: salted goat's milk and unsalted sheep's milk offered with fleur de sel on the side.

4) bevvies - the wine pairings were good, and i loved that they served a not-sweet sherry at the beginning of the meal. we also LOVED the riedel glass they used to pair with the veal. it really helped capture the nose of the wine.
i generally enjoy the cocktails here (fine, everywhere). i started with the rosita before dinner. then a sloe & steady. and finally, stuck with the silhouette (which my S.O. also loved, so we shared most of the time). my girlfriend drank the cumulunimbus pretty much the entire time.

5) cost - the bill was pretty expensive, but we were there to indulge. between their engagement (they're getting married in december!), the farewell dinner and my departure for china, there were a lot of finals.

after-dinner snack... halal truck:
on the way home from eleven madison park, i couldn't help myself... i love the halal truck on madison btwn 27th/28th. the aroma tempts you from far, far away. there are always cabbies stopped there (good sign!). plus the guys who work there at night are so friendly. i always get a platter of lamb, chicken and/or kofta (i usually do a combo - when i'm hammered, i call it the "whole shebang") which comes with fries, rice and salad. be sure you ask for the white sauce AND hot sauce. last night i asked for it less spicy, and it's not as good.

defonte's of brooklyn
261 3rd ave at 21st street
new york, ny 10010
212/614.1500

eleven madison park
11 madison ave at 24th street
new york, ny 10010
212/889.0905

i could eat here every day

sushi yasuda is an ethereal experience that all sushi lovers should experience at least once (and i hope not only once) in their lives.

last night i indulged at sushi yasuda with two friends who, like me, enjoy their food, especially sushi. as always, we sat at the sushi counter and put our fate in the hands of the talented chef yasuda. i can't go through everything we ate; it would be impossible to remember.

when you sit down with chef yasuda, he is welcoming and friendly. if he recognizes you, he is even more warm, and since he knows your tastes, he just confirms your plan. before he knows you, he'll talk to you. he'll teach you, if you're interested in learning. he'll joke with you (he's very funny). he's a character, and he understands and reads people.

then the meal begins. first let's talk rice. his rice is perfect. he doesn't use too much. if he knows you'll be eating a lot (which i always do), he'll try to balance the amount of rice so you don't fill up too quickly. it's perfectly seasoned (not too sweet or vinegary) and perfectly sticky.

as for fish, he'll begin with what's freshest. last night happened to be a good evening for the yellowtail family. warasa, shimaaji... spectacular. and the kanpachi, which he told us came from a 7+lb fish, rather than approximately 4.5lbs (the usual weight) - it was divine.

his eel is fantastic. he'll use different preparations for various cuts of the same and different eels, and then you'll do an eel flight going from most delicate to most strong. your tastebuds sing.

the uni - oh the uni - yasuda only gets the best uni. last night we had two different unis - the usual from santa barbara and another, less common, from maine. the maine uni was lighter, more delicate, but clean. the santa barbara was sweeter, stronger, but delicious.

the mirugai and its himo - two parts of the giant clam, both so tasty, but such contrasting flavors and textures - it's amazing how one clam can produce both pieces.

yasuda only uses one type of oyster: peace passage oysters. from washington state, they have a slight briny flavor like east coast oysters, but are rounded out by a creaminess that's known with west coast oysters. and they're big. yum.

we only had one piece of toro last night, which was disappointing, but this was because it wasn't the best fish of the night.

we had other fish (coho salmon, white king salmon, sumi squid legs, octopus - love his octopus, a clam from korea - toregai, i think, hotate, hotate himo - mmmm, jack mackerel, sayori, kinmedai... i'm sure there was more), and every bite was delightful.

we finished with two hand rolls - uni and ikura. the seaweed, two different kinds, were both unbelievable. yasuda uses the best grade seaweed available, and as he prepares them, the aroma of the toasted seaweed wafts to your nostrils and excites your palate for what's to come. next time i need to remember to ask how yasuda prepares his ikura. it was the perfect end to the perfect meal.



the most astonishing part is that yasuda remembers everything you've had that night. and when you've finished your meal, he ticks it off on a piece of paper and gives it to the waitress.

the service is, as expected, perfect. the meal is mouth-watering, even when you're full.

now here are the yasuda rules: 1) do not be late for your reservation. if you're more than 10 minutes late, you lose it. no exceptions. 2) your seating is 1.5 hours. you can linger if the next party has not arrived, but if they have, they will kick you out. 3) do not dip his perfectly seasoned rice in soy sauce. yasuda seasons each piece with sauce so that you don't require any additional wasabi or soy sauce. but if you do, do not disrespect his rice with soy sauce.

and that's it... the most amazing meal in new york. if i ever win the mega million lottery (note this meal is NOT recession friendly), i'll eat here every day that i'm in new york and yasuda's working. that's a promise.


sushi yasuda
204 east 43rd street btwn 2nd/3rd aves
new york, ny 10017
212/972.1001

an average burger

after 2+ weeks in china for work, i come home with hankerings. i always want artisanal for a cheese-filled meal (no one eats cheese in china), amazing new york-style pizza and a delicious juicy burger.

so when a friend returned from his three-week jaunt through tokyo, hong kong, beijing and shanghai, i asked him what he craved while he was gone. maybe he's not as food-driven as i am because he didn't seem to crave anything, but when i mentioned my usual cravings, he seemed quite keen for a burger.

we headed to black iron burger shop, a new-ish (august 2008) bare-bones burger spot that he frequents. they griddle-fry their burgers rather than flame-grill, and although it doesn't look green, they minimize waste, only serve keg beer and even their griddle is energy-efficient. decor is minimal - wooden tables/floor, many ketchup bottles surrounding you and a mirrored board with beer specials. acoustics might be less than stellar; it was loud for a wednesday night, but it wasn't busy.

the burgers are thin patties, not like my favorite shake shack juicy hockey puck, and it didn't ooze with flavor. i had mine with horseradish cheddar, and it was fine, but it didn't burst with horseradish, cheddary, meaty goodness.

the onion rings were a little sad as well, limp and less than crispy. there was more fried batter on the dish than on the onions. and i don't really drink beer, so mine, the house brew, tasted like miller lite, which was fine by me. my friend's smelled yummy and tasted nice, but i couldn't drink an entire glass... it was a board special, i wish i could remember the name.

really their biggest problem was the service: the waitress just couldn't get it right. first she forgot the lettuce, tomato and onion. then she completely ordered the wrong burger for my friend. she cleared his dish but not mine. she was just off. i still tipped her 20% ($41 total including tip); it is a recession.


black iron burger shop
540 east 5th street btwn aves a/b
new york, ny 10009
212/677.6067

now i know why it's called death & co.

i planned to share my first experience at death & co. yesterday, but i spent the better part of my day recovering from the delicious concoctions that i imbibed tuesday evening.

since i'm still celebrating the return of brown booze, i began my tuesday night cocktail evening with the manhattan transfer. this alcohol-forward cocktail is made with rittenhouse rye, dry vermouth, rarnazzotti and orange bitters. it's normally served up, but i had it on the rocks (generally my preference)... and in this case, on the rock would be more appropriate - this one was served over one giant ice cube. it might compete for best manhattan ever.

joaquim was our barman for the night, and he was really in tune with what we needed. my tequila cocktails - the oaxaca old fashioned and the spicy yet-to-be-named one - were both complex and delicious. the spicy one had fresh pepper puree, and every time he opened the bottle of puree, the aroma of pepper oil struck me and had me craving food with peppers.

my gin cocktail - the joy division - was good, but it left the strong unmistakable flavor of absinthe in my mouth... even the next day.

i'm sure i had others, but the reason why i woke up wednesday morning feeling like death & co. is that i overconsumed. which i can imagine is quite simple when you have a talented barman making creative and tasty delights full of booze.

i tried to buffer the booze with some nibbles - the maple pork belly (tasty, but a little stringy) and the oysters rock a fella (delish, but the creamed spinach was too rich, even for me) - but they were no match for my love of cocktails.

death & co. has a great vibe, speakeasy-like... dark, comfortable yet sexy. it would be great for a date, but there are no reservations. there's no standing at the bar. it's built on the milk & honey model, but less strict. and with food.

yes, we should return soon.


death & co.
433 east 6th street btwn Ave A/1st
new york, ny 10009
212/388.0882

i deserve a perfect week

my family has been in town for the easter long weekend. let me specify when i say family: my older sister, her husband and their two children (5-year old nephew and 3-year old niece). and it's been a nightmare since they walked in the door. i've been some combination of host, babysitter, slave, concierge and personal chef... maybe throw in a little bit of an aunt. birth control: these children are the best form. my niece cracked the screen on my laptop. she peed in her pants in my hallway/guest bedroom. my nephew threw multiple evil-fueled tantrums per day, running around threatening to kill his wrongdoers (i was the subject of one at some point). they're gone now. i still have a lingering headache.

but at least easter has passed. which means i can drink brown booze again. when the clock struck midnight on saturday night, i did a shot of jameson. and then another. i wanted delicious brown booze cocktails, but milk & honey closed shop a bit earlier than usual on easter eve. but sam, their ultra-skilled bartender, opened its doors to me. all the fresh juices had been put away, but he offered me a shot of rye whiskey to celebrate the end of my sacrifice.

i leave for china in a week. i may not look forward to the 12 travel days, but i do look forward to the week before. this week in particular. i'm unwinding tonight, but tomorrow starts the perfect week.

tuesday - cocktails at death & co.
wednesday - TBD
thursday - dinner at sushi yasuda.
friday - dinner at eleven madison park.
saturday - dinner at falai then bend show at arlene's grocery then cocktails at milk & honey.
sunday - cocktails in the park (weather-permitting)

i deserve it. screw the recession.

i'll borough for food: bronx

my sister left for argentina yesterday, and she convinced me to pick her up in the bronx by tempting with me arthur avenue pizza. she described it as "pizza from italy" not new york-style, and she said it was awesome. i'm easily swayed by food.

i love arthur avenue. it smells like freshly baked bread. there are lots of people walking around. people say the italians are leaving, but i see tons of italians every time i go.

trattoria zero otto nove is definitely not typical old-school italian. but it's a refreshing, current spot that has a following. the entire restaurant was full when we arrived at 5pm! it's a great space with vaulted ceilings and a mezzanine level overlooking the ground floor.

there's a pizza oven in the dining room, and my S.O. pointed out huge vats of nutella sitting around the oven (i'm not a nutella fan). the pizza chefs were super friendly; happy chefs, happy pizza? the waiters are a bit surly, but not rude, and they're all young men, relatively attractive. i don't mind surly as long as they're competent. since yesterday happened to be one of those "bottomless pit" kind of days, we decided to go for two appetizers, two pizzas, two pastas and two desserts.

the appetizers: polpettine with polenta was delicious (little polenta cakes with mini meatballs and goat cheese - yum), whereas the eggplant parmagiana was disappointing (i think they didn't purge the eggplant enough of the bitter juices).

the pizzas: both were very tasty, but very different. the caprese was fresh and light with arugula, cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese. the diavolo was spicy and heartier, with fresh mozzarella and spicy soppressata. the crust was tasty, but i think it could've been crisper. i dipped it in the olive oil with salt, and it was like great bread.

the pastas: the pasta al forno felt like it was a bunch of everything leftover thrown into a pot. i love ricotta in pasta, but it made the sauce grainy. and i hate egg, so the sliced hard-boiled egg in the dish was an UNWELCOME addition. the pasta was perfect. the pasta fagioli (not soup) had prosciutto and cannellini beans with a mix of different kinds of pasta. it was wonderfully hearty. again the pasta was perfectly cooked, even though it included a mish-mash of bucatini and what looked like short manicotti noodles.

the desserts: i can't remember the name of my dessert, but mine was amazing. it was ladyfingers with light whipped cream, strawberries and strawberry sauce. mmm. my S.O. and sister shared the nutella pizza for two. i didn't try it since nutella really doesn't do it for me.

the verdict: it was a good, hearty meal, but next time i'll order the pizza well-done. the pasta in general was yummy. the salads looked great, but yesterday wasn't a salad day. also, it was more expensive than i thought (for the bronx in particular) - about $60pp including my S.O.'s wine, tax and tip.


trattoria zero otto nove
2357 arthur avenue near 186th street
bronx, ny 10458
718/220.1027

a benefit and woe of the recession

thursday night was the american museum of natural history's annual museum dance, and 2009's theme was GREEN. it was a beautiful, well-attended event with well-groomed couples and throngs of singles (men & women) dressed in typical NYC-style: individually fashionable yet sometimes strange. i'm marking my calendar for 2010's AMNH event.

i love benefits. i love the dresses (i wore green!), i love the energy, and i particularly love the silent auctions! but this year, benefits haven't been the same. and i'm sure it's because of the recession. but i dislike that word immensely... recession. so i'll be referring to the current times as a down-market.

in this down-market, no one bids on silent auction items! thursday's event had, in addition to amazing other prizes, an entire judith ripka jewelry bar, full of gorgeous baubles, and close to nothing had received bids. if you're unaware, starting bids at silent auctions are usually well under actual retail value. in this down-market, wouldn't people be vying for deals?! but the looming fear makes no one want to buy - even at 1/2 price (except me, i "won" a stunning, 18k-gold, diamond-crusted bracelet... i'm serious when i say i LOVE silent auctions).

in juxtaposition, last night, we went to dinner at marfa, this new-ish inexpensive texas/mexican-themed restaurant. originally, i had a reservation at l'atelier de joel robuchon (talk about juxtaposition), but i was rebuked by my dining companions for not being "recession-friendly" (can you see why i dislike this word?).

marfa was not busy for a friday night. decor-wise, it's very bare: white adobe walls, wooden tables, votive candles in paper bags - no frills. we were seated promptly, and i immediately requested their signature "marfarita" to begin; for a cocktail spiked with serrano chile, i was very underwhelmed - it was overly sweet and had zero tequila punch. please go to bobo and try the "stealth margarita" - it blows this cocktail away.

i'm a piglet, and i can factually say that my dining companions last night are actual pigs. for 5 of us, we ordered the largest marfa APPETIZER platter: the big texan platter for 3 (dry-rub baby back ribs, chipotle chicken wings, red chile, veggie chile, corn dogs, guacamole, BBQ shrimp, and pulled pork tostadas). the menu also says it includes a shot of house-infused flavored tequila, but we never received this (strike 1). in addition, from the marfa BITES, we ordered the fish tacos and the nogales steak tacos, which covered the entire marfa BITES category besides the salads (and who really needs salad?). for our main course, we chose 2 orders of chicken-fried steak, fried catfish and fried chicken plus a double-order of mac & cheese and a basket of biscuits & cornbread.

here's how it went. we received the basket of cornbread (they were out of biscuits). the cornbread was terrible: dry, flavorless, crumbly and COLD. the accompanying honey chipotle butter couldn't resuscitate this bread. (i would HIGHLY advise they remove the cornbread from the menu, or improve the recipe).

but then the confusing part: we received EVERYTHING ELSE ALL AT ONCE (strike 2). our waitress must be the most daft, retarded server on the planet. we received platters upon platters of food on a relatively small table. you'd think someone would help consolidate the food or at least be vigilant about removing plates as i consolidated the food (which was so copious, it had to spill onto ANOTHER table). no... nothing.

i stacked empty plates under full plates; i left large empty platters at the edge of the table; i threw soiled and practically shredded paper napkins and rib/chicken bones onto plates that needed to be removed... not an iota of attention from the waitstaff.

i also ordered another bad "marfarita" - i was hoping for an improved version. i waited. and waited. and waited. i saw it already made sitting at the bar for 10 minutes or so; the ice was melting. i also saw the waitress chatting merrily with someone at the bar, with no intention of bringing my drink over. i marched over to the bar and grabbed it. it was already self-bussing; now it had become SELF-SERVE (strike 3).

finally, after we'd finished, requested the check, etc., i made it quite obvious our meal was complete (again, used napkins thrown atop dishes, completely licked-clean plates, etc.). our friend was telling a story of his recent spain adventures. the busboy finally appears, but instead of just taking the debris from our table, he interrupts for EVERY PLATE and asks, "are you finished with this, are you finished with this?" i couldn't take it anymore; i turned to him and said, "we are finished with EVERYTHING, and we've already asked for the check. in case this isn't clear enough, please take all of the plates."

sadly, the food was quite good (best chicken-fried steak i've had in NYC - but not nearly as good as the one i had in dallas, tx (see photo); good mac & cheese; really delicious fried catfish; yummy corn dogs); i'd consider take-out when my blood stops boiling at the thought of marfa. but i'll never return again. i was appalled that during this DOWN-MARKET, when restaurants are clamoring for paying customers, this restaurant could be so inattentive to its service. i abhor bad service.

and we only ate here because of the recession. i hate that word.


marfa
101 east 2nd street near 1st ave
new york, ny 10009
212/673.8908
reservations available on opentable

spewing nothing

i feel like i'm stuck in the middle of a tornado; everything's just spinning around me at ridiculous speed. and everytime i reach out to get involved with one of the many spinning things, i get dizzy, so i retreat. and all i keep thinking of is vacation. and cocktails.

i've been in love with cocktails for a while. it all started with the negroni at east side company (larry & alyssa's birthday party) - i was mesmerized by the giant single ice cube. or maybe it was the manhattan at cite (RIP the unlimited wine dinners). actually, i think it was circa 1999... the sidecar at cibar (courtesy of ed taibi). a few years ago, the cocktail-craze hit NYC. and then i met naren at bobo. now i'm hooked.

i gave up brown booze and shots for lent. people poked fun at me, but i don't think they understand how much i love my makers mark. and shots of jameson. so now i love gin. something to add to my lent sacrifices next year.

it's not aiding my new year's resolution to drink less. i have plans to drink 6 of 7 nights this week. next week 6 for sure as well. this, in turn, affects my resolution to sleep more. when i woke this morning (if you can call it that), i felt good. at 2:54AM. i went to sleep after midnight. between the strange dreams and the work stress, i couldn't get back to it. so i worked. and gymmed.

i had after-work cocktails at irving mill yesterday. the ginger pear frost was sweet. i was hoping the ginger would give it a kick. it wasn't bad; it just wasn't what i wanted. then i had a tart kumquat citrus special. it was just what i wanted. i'm liking sour/tart drinks that turn your nose. but irving mill - pretty restaurant, good-looking menu, decent cocktails. note: i should go back for food. even though i probably liked it more because of the company.

despite the insanity of work and life, i think i'm happy. and if not, at least i'm seeing naren at bobo tomorrow.

irving mill
116 east 16th street btwn irving/park
new york, ny 10003
212/254.1600

commerce

merriam webster defines com•merce as 1 : social intercourse : interchange of ideas, opinions, or sentiments; 2 : the exchange or buying and selling of commodities on a large scale involving transportation from place to place.

and commerce restaurant, a newish spot in the west village definitely fulfills its first definition. there's a lot of chatter, and i absolutely loved walking in to the frenetic energy that filled the room; however, they're somewhat lackluster on the 2nd definition... they don't seem to get that buying/selling involves being SEATED.

our reservation was 815pm, but we weren't seated until 910pm. they bought us a round of drinks, but only because we nagged. we ordered quickly, and other than bread (which wasn't memorable at all, except the pretzel), our first dish came out at 940pm.

fortunately, i had the pleasure of seeing my favorite friend/bartender at bobo before dinner, who let me test drive some of bobo's soon-to-be-released spring cocktail menu items, so my patience level for commerce's misgivings was quite high. however, i can't say the same for my dining companions, who grumbled and grumbled some more all through the meal (our hostess didn't exactly make you feel warm and fuzzy - her looks and coldness actually reminded me of "Cutthroat Bitch" aka Amber from House).

despite the cocktails, i might've been affected had the food not been so EXCELLENT. the hamachi ceviche was spicy and tart - quite delicious; the duck and foie gras rillettes were good, although not as creamy as i usually like; and the winter vegetable fricassee (which our server highly recommended) was tasty, although i wouldn't get it again.

i loved both pasta dishes, the ragu of other things (some name like that) with homemade orecchiette and the spaghetti carbonara. i think lupa's carbonara is better, but fatty pasta is yummy (note: i don't generally eat pasta, so i'm easy to please in this category).

we ordered the roast chicken for 2, and we were warned that it took 35 minutes. instead, they brought out a strange 1/2 order of the chicken - the meat was very moist and tasty and the skin crispy, and it was served with a homemade spaetzle-like pasta... but it was no foie gras bread dressing! she put the order for the roast chicken in after she realized her mistake, but it was too late... it just prolonged our already LOOOONG meal.

i was thoroughly impressed with the braised beef, bone marrow and sliced fillet - beef dishes are usually boring when you're not at a steakhouse, but this one was jam-packed full with flavors. by the time the roast chicken was ready, we were already stuffed, so we requested that it be split in half so we could take it home. i still haven't tried it (i can't eat so indulgently every night!), but it's in the frig, waiting to be eaten.

on a final note, let's talk cocktails and wine... although the cocktail list isn't impressive, the one drink i did order, the nor'easter, was so tasty, that i couldn't help to order another. we also had a couple bottles of wine, a priorat and a st. emilion (both in the $80-100 range), and the latter was DELICIOUS. perfect with our meal, perfect on its own. and all in all, dinner was quite a bargain (but not nearly a recession special) at about $120pp.

commerce
50 commerce street
new york, ny 10014
212/524-2301

i love the fairmont mayakoba!

every aspect of getting to mexico was a pain in my ass.
1) both of my girlfriends cancelled. one was work-related, the other questionably medical.
2) everyone went on and on (and on) about how unsafe mexico is right now (which made everyone worry that i was going alone)
3) the hotel was reserved through a wholesaler (hence the excellent deal), and it was impossible to change the name on the reservation.
4) i had a chatty MAN next to me on my flight. i should've upgraded to 1st. hindsight is 20/20.
5) getting to playa del carmen is expensive ($90-105), and the cheap shuttle ($30) for which i opted (it's a recession!) took 1.5 hours - i was the last stop.

but... once i arrived, i realized... the fairmont mayakoba is PARADISE. i guess the hotel can't take all of the credit; the weather is pretty fantastic. but the service is unbeatable. upon arrival, i was upgraded to their amazing signature deluxe casita. i was served a delicious fruity iced tea while checking in. i received a work call during check-in, and they just continued on, motioning me where to go, and didn't disturb me during my entire call (which lasted well after i reached my room). my room is incredible. the fitness center is nice - not a health club, certainly not the Sports Club/LA at the ritz-carlton in DC - but it's nice. and they provide fruit, water and a delicious mayan juice. the pool and views are amazing. and have i mentioned the ultra-courteous, helpful and friendly staff? this place oozes relaxation.

i actually don't want to go home. i'd be happy to rent a budget room in town (as long as there's air-conditioning, a pool and a jacuzzi tub - ha, very budget) because my one complaint is that the fairmont mayakoba is a COMPOUND. it's gated and fenced in. and to get to the road is a HIKE. and i'd rather spend my day in the sun (since i only have 2 full days of sun). and the food here, although not terribly expensive (15 pesos to the dollar - i have no idea if that's a good exchange rate, but for a nice hotel, the food's not expensive), is just hotel food... not even good hotel food. i know there's unbelievable CHEAP street food out there, somewhere relatively close. i want fish tacos; i bet they're fantastic here.

so next time, i'll rent a car.

fairmont mayakoba
Carretera Federal Cancún
Playa del Carmen Km. 298
Playa del Carmen
Solidaridad, Quintana Roo, Riviera Maya, Mexico 77710
TEL +52 (984) 206-3000

when mcdonald's hits the spot

i rarely eat fast-food. the nyc restaurant scene is amazing; i'd be a fool to waste any possible meal with the likes of a big mac. but i really dig the mcdonald's vanilla cone or the caramel sundae. i don't eat either often, but i like them.

i've never eaten mcdonald's in china. i only spend a few weeks per year here, and the local food is delicious. however, on our way to the factory, our driver had to make a mcdonald's pitstop to feed a british customer.

strangely, in this small town of xuchang, there are 2 mcdonald's in the main areas of downtown, not far from each other. and i understand why: this one was overflowing and utter chaos: kids running around unsupervised; employees trying to sweep the floors and clear the tables; ordering "lines" were a shouting match. and while trying to position myself in the most out-of-the-way spot, i eyed the delicious vanilla cone.

although the weather is frigid, the tasty treat looked quite mouth-watering. i decided to request the sundae when the driver had maneuvered his way to the head of the line. it came out immediately.

i've never had the strawberry sundae (i didn't specify which kind, so this is what i got), and i won't have it again. mcdonald's china's strawberry sauce is more like gelatin - gross. and although the dessert hit the spot (i haven't had dessert since before i arrived in china), the vanilla ice cream was oddly-flavored. it had a strange coffee undertone and a not-creamy texture.

just another reason not to eat mcdonald's while in china.

dreaming of warmth & workouts

i've been in china for almost a week now to oversee the last stages of our (Keep) Spring 2009 production. this somewhat rural area of china - xuchang - is much colder than i expected. i was last here in september, and the weather was still quite warm - t-shirts during the day and a hoodie in the evening - so i couldn't imagine that just four months later, i'd be wearing 3 layers, plus my arcteryx puffy, and still be shivering. the workers here amaze me, with no gloves, they're toiling away, for probably close to nothing. you see, the factory is not heated. i'm in a private office, with 2 heaters, and it's still freezing. i don't try to imagine what working beyond these doors would be like.

instead, i sit at my desk dreaming of warmth and workouts. last week, my girlfriends and i booked a long-weekend to the fairmont mayakoba in mexico in march. one of the primary reasons we chose this hotel was that i required a nice fitness center.

since march 2008, i've been obsessed with the gym. originally my doctor recommended it as a solution to my sleep issues. i joined the gym at the union league club; it's small, and there's rarely anyone there - perfect for a novice. and as i started to go, it became a sanctuary. my S.O. and i would get into a fight; i fled to the gym. i was stressed from work; i immediately escaped to my sanctuary. when i had to go to china for the first time in april, i was panicked at the thought of being away from it so long. it was a drug. but after a visit to my friend in DC in june (and working out at the sports club/LA - an amazing place - every day that weekend), i realized it wasn't just my gym that made me so happy; it was the actual workout! (note: i'm not skinny from my addiction - my indulgent eating has made sure of that.)

i'm not so insane now. in china, i've accepted the fact that i won't see a gym for days. i bring pilates videos; i walk up the hotel stairs, bottom to top, until i feel exhausted; i listen to my workout playlist on my iPod... sometimes just hearing these songs lifts my spirits or cures my boredom. it's all i can do. however, at the factory office, i sit. i email, review samples and production shoes and shiver. so in my downtime, i plan my workout schedule for when i'm home. it's insane, i know, but the thought of slipping out before my S.O. wakes and getting in a quick weights/cardio session makes me giddy. calculating how much time i'll have to workout between work and getting ready for an evening event might seem crazy, but every minute i think i can squeeze in excites me.

i've even created a microsoft word calendar that begins the day after i get home until MEXICO. yes, i'm a fanatic. but in this frigid cold, i have to go to extremes to keep my mind off of the chill that keeps running through my body.

2009 new year's resolutions

i'm posting my 2009 new year's resolutions here so i can laugh when three weeks down the road, they're all broken already. my schedule (work, play, travel, life) doesn't allow me a lot of structure and routine, but i'm going to try to stick with it for 2009.

1) spoil the S.O. less. i do a lot for my S.O., and it's not reciprocated, and i think he's taking me for granted. don't get me wrong - he works very hard. i just want him to bring flowers home one day for no reason. or to make me dinner. just once! or plan a night out for just the two of us, because he wants to. or even talk to me when he comes home from work... before he asks where dinner is.

2) eat healthier. i don't eat healthy... at all. i want to add more soy, low/non-fat dairy, fruits & veggies to my diet. less pork product (i'm talking spam, bacon/pancetta/pork belly, and sausage/prosciutto/anything from dipalo's). less deep-frying the fat that comes off prime rib roast and eating it as a snack. less macaroni & cheese, made with half & half. less moist beef brisket from hill country.

3) go out less. this may end up being less interesting for my not-well-attended blog, but it'll be much better for my liver. i'd like to limit drinking to three nights per week (less than five drinks per night). right now i'm at about five nights per week (about eight drinks per night... i know it sounds like a lot, but i start at 8pm and end at 4am. that's only 1 drink per hour really. so maybe it's more than 8 drinks per night...). and no more shots. i'm too old.

4) visit my good friends who aren't in NYC (and for that matter, who are in NYC) more often. i only hang out with friends that party. so boston, LA, sao paulo and atlanta... watch out!

5) sleep more. i only sleep about 3-4 hours a night. i hope this goes hand-in-hand with resolutions #2 & #3. i think this means i need to set a better sleep routine. this is the hardest one of my resolutions.

6) blog more! this was supposed to be my place to share, but between work, play, travel and life, it's hard. and even though i don't sleep, being tired makes me less efficient. this might be a good way for me to facebook less too.

i think 2009's going to be a good year, but with the entire world going nuts (recession - which has brought increased burglary/violence; international violence - everyone's getting smarter including the bad guys; the obsession with pop culture - i'm not that into it, but when did TMZ get a 1/2 hour show?; etc.), who knows what it'll really bring.