Where Have I Been?
January 31st, 2010Well, after the holidays we went on the Atkins diet - zzzzz - how dull, but it was a nice way to purge our addictions to all our holiday evils like cookies, cakes, candies, martinis, Manhattans, Margaritas, bread, bananas and bacon… So that was that - then I went off to New York for 9 days of work, and visiting family - and foooooooood!
Just a few highlights if anyone is planning a trip east any time soon….
LANDMARC - at the Time Warner Center - was a Jean Georges restaurant originally, now it is a big barn of a place that you don’t need a reservation for and can grab a table at a moment’s notice - standard American food, good burger, sublime Goat Cheese Profiteroles and a good wine list.
#9 or something - upstate at my sister’s house in Millerton - their “finer dining” establishment - it was “fine”. I had another burger - yes, I’d been craving them. The food was okay, the company was HEAVEN, and we had a lovely time.
The New STANDARD HOTEL - in the Meatpacking District-ish - the Standard is… well, standard. A syrupy thing with St. Germaine Liqueur, which is a wonderful thing, but ruined in this “cocktail”. I stuck with martinis. But after, my sister and I went to:
RED CAT - which I’d heard about on Martha Stewart - LOVELY little place. A fantastic cocktail at their bar first called a PALE MARY - with Bloody Mary flavored Vodka, a martini glass rimmed in powdered Worcestershire Sauce and pickled vegetables. I had the Skate Wing as a main - heaven. My sister had short ribs, which I thought were too peppery but she loved. Restaurant was good fun, very pretty and lively and a couple behind my sister mashed and stroked each others arms endlessly, to the point of nausea (ours), but made for a good tale - I think they were in their late 30’s - not late teens.
ANGUS MCINDOE - quick lunch in this theater district pub - always fine - with a lovely client (Kathy Fitzgerald, shameless plug) then off to a Broadway backers audition with Jerry Lewis - yes, that Jerry Lewis - it was HORRIFIC. Filled with antiques like Jerry, Marvin Hamlisch, Rupert (Pina Colada) Holmes and a newly married and quite wan, Kathleen Marshall. My hip (the replaced one) ached for 2 hours that felt like 12 -
PUTANESCA - in Hell’s Kitchen with the GENIUS and BRILLIANCE that is Julie Halston, a dear friend, Broadway actress and doyenne - and a very nice little restaurant that wasn’t so little - great wine, delicious Tartuffo - if you’re in that area, remember it.
LE GRENOUILLE - this was my splurge dinner - I’d read that slightly sad article in the NY TIMES about all the great French Restaurants on NYC that were gone or going, and Le Grenouille was still standing - well, it was BRILLIANT - just off Fifth Avenue on 52nd Street, it was packed with old NY Money - jewels and furs everywhere, and all in the best possible way. Service was flawless, room was glitzy and everything was, for how old and famous the place is - new! It felt modern and fresh and alive and wonderful. A lobster ravioli starter that was excellent, then Duck and wonderful lambchops, but the highlight was a Pistachio Souffle that both Scott and I will remember FOR EVER - and may try and sneak back in there one night, after the crowd disperses and beg for - dinner was $$$$$ and worth every cent.
PEASANT - rustic upscale Italian in Soho, on Elizabeth St. - really enjoyed it, but I must say it made me feel, for the first time ever - there are restaurants as good as this (finally) in Los Angeles. Pizzeria and Osteria Mozza are as good or better, if they may lack the wonderful ambiance of Peasant - we sat near the wood burning oven and watch tiny quails on a spit (my sister order this and it was amazing), thin-crust pizzas flying and out of the oven, my Venison chops were roasted in there - wonderful dinner, good friends and family. Loved!
BAR BOULUD - I treated myself to a very expensive Thursday - first bought a STUPID expensive pair of sunglasses, that are being shipped to me - then took myself across the street from Lincoln Center to Daniel Boulud’s little cafe and had an UNBELIEVABLE late lunch! A Cauliflower Veloute that was direct from God, a charcuterie that was massive and wonderful, heaped with ham and 3 different pates, fresh, warm toast, a couple glasses of wine, a Gateau Basque - sort of a cream pie baked inside two flaky crusts, with pineapple chunks marinated in dark rum and creme anglaise - this lunch was OUTRAGEOUS, and way too much and way too expensive and I LOVED EVERY MOMENT OF IT. Then I waddled downtown to meet my sister, and her offspring - for a good-bye.
JOE ALLEN - when you work with people in the Theatre - you always wind up at Joe Allen at some point. On W. 46th St, steps away from all the Broadway theaters, with the most mediocre food imaginable, this place is a must - it just feels almost mandatory. Don’t go for the food, or the cocktails, go because it’s an order - it’s the law! And what did I have… another burger - and you know what, it was probably the best one I had there. My lovely friend Diana would have said, “uh sorry, but Houston’s Burgers are superior”, and Ms. Barnes would be right. But sitting in Manhattan where it was 25 degrees outside, with a client (Kathy Fitzgerald, shameless plug) who is a Broadway actress - well…. let’s just say, location, location, location.
BRANDY’S - this old piano bar on the Upper East Side is where a wonderful old friend (also a Broadway actress) works and sings and forces you to get drunk - Hadn’t been there in years, since a couple with us had been invited back to a hotel by two other couples, thereby creating something we called a “six some” - (they declined). Yes, Brandy’s always provides a story. Adinah was in great voice, (and I think she’s made some pact with the devil because I hadn’t seen her in about 10 years and she HASN’T AGED), we sat at the bar far too long, and I will say that the song, “I’ll Take Manhattan” was singing far too loudly that night, because I felt the damned Manhattans all the way home on the plane the next day.
I finished this wonderful trip that was productive and fattening with a greasy quarter pounder at Newark Airport, but still had the souffle in my mind - flew home via Continental in Business/First - uh, I see the business, where are they hiding the First?
It was 17 degrees when I left New Jersey - and 57 when I landed at LAX. ‘nuf said. It snowed while I was away, as you can see - now I’m back in Pasadena… and back on a diet - oh well…. We’ll always have….
Le Grenouille!
