Good eats in NYC

I’ve been dying to get my NYC food pics out. Bone marrow. There I said it. I had been a little leary to try it. I’ve tasted a fair amount of off the grid foods- brains and tongue included, which never made my list of must have again. But this bone marrow with salty, delicate gherkins, fresh parsley, moist (and there’s the m word) grey salt with perfectly toasted bread- my guess under a salamander, was divine indeed. My friends are tired of hearing me talk about. It’s my dinner party topic. But I just can’t help it. And no, this is not an April Fools!

NYC March 2013 Food-2Lucky with a last minute reservation for two at Prune in the East village, this was the spot where the opportunity struck.

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I would highly recommend it if you are a meat eater and mostly recommend it for vegetarians- especially if you are dining with a meat eater!  This marrow as an appetizer would be easily shared. It’s for that select group who actually adore chicken skin and beef fat. How many are totally grossed out now? Well stop reading if you are because the next course was an Easter prelude… and not the religious kind. (well depends on your religion I suppose).

Rabbit in a little mustard butter sauce with tarragon and shallots…

NYC March 2013 Food-3My son dined on a green salad and plain omelette. A big thank you to him for indulging me :-)

We shared a darling chocolate salted caramel walnut tart… yes we ate half before i remembered a photo.

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One morning for brunch at

NYC March 2013 Food-5It’s truly amazing, the amount of cool, petit restaurants in the city.

NYC March 2013 Food-6It was almost noon and after a big dinner the night before, I had fresh squeezed grapefruit juice and ceviche…Candied ginger on top actually worked.

NYC March 2013 Food-7There was another brunch (because this is the thing to do on the weekends) at Minetta Tavern. Poached eggs with lox on latkes with hollandaise. Around for ages, Minetta is old school with tailored staff and  impeccable service. The food was very good albeit a little pricey.

Damn you woman, take a photo before you start eating!

NYC March 2013 Food-10And this was my favorite find for the quotidien… daily life. A dirty chai- why didn’t I think of that! A chai latte with a shot of espresso. Bravo.
NYC March 2013 Food-12And last but not least, another favorite food moment in the park. Fresh sourdough rye, lemon marmalade and a  goat tomme cheese at Union Square.

NYC March 2013 Day 1-4I’m ordering up a storm with loads of merchandise arriving at the store. Exciting!! Here’s a little pic with the beginnings of fixtures…

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Tschüß xx

One year ago:

NYC- More food!
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NYC: Day one on foot

Here’s a little visual recap of my first day in NYC. Instead of dropping my son at school with a kiss and a wave goodbye, it was at work. I watched him swipe his card to disappear behind the ‘employee only’ door with a proud smile on my face.  On my own till lunch at 1.45, I began to traipse south from Madison Square Park…

Not having had breakfast, I started at the Union Square Farmer’s Market

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Even city folk want to plant something.
NYC March 2013 Day 1

Wasn’t sure if an ostrich bone would fit in my carry-on.

NYC March 2013 Day 1-2Loads of local going on here.

NYC March 2013 Day 1-3Picked up a couple rounds of 100% sourdough rye (must find myself a starter) an apple, a little raw milk gouda, goat tomme, lemon marmalade and ate it in the park as if it weren’t 30 degrees outside.

NYC March 2013 Day 1-4

The rye, marmalade and cheese were a hit.
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Next stop- Palais Des Thés. You’ll find this lovely, fragrant tea at Chez Chloe next month.NYC March 2013 Day 1-6Two friendly ladies at the Soho tea shop showed me around making me want to double my order.

NYC March 2013 Day 1-7On to Abc Home and Carpet to get inspired. Wonderful displays like this one of there candle selections. I’m excited about one artisan line from Chicago I’ll carry called Tatine.
NYC March 2013 Day 1-21 This beautiful line of ceramics is something to admire… not sure yet if it will make an appearance at Chez Chloe. The website alone is cooler than cool.
NYC March 2013 Day 1-20 NYC March 2013 Day 1-19 Chocolate break time. Mariebelle. Beautiful packaging and a pretty price tag. Don’t forget your free shot of spicy aztec hot chocolate. I love it’s richness and very low sugar.NYC March 2013 Day 1-9 NYC March 2013 Day 1-8

Onward and downward (remember I’m traveling south). Fishs Eddy and an awesome display of varied dishware to mix and match.NYC March 2013 Day 1-18 NYC March 2013 Day 1-17Have you heard of Purl? I’ve hardly even knitted the last couple years except for O’s Christmas stocking but when I happen to pass by this store I have to slip in (no pun intended… there’s a slip knot if you don’t knit).  Anyhoo…catching this reflection was a bonus. Notice I’m liking the ripped edge border.
NYC March 2013 Day 1-10Don’t forget to look up when you walk in cool places.NYC March 2013 Day 1-11Mid afternoon break at Eataly. NYC March 2013 Day 1-12This was my favorite. “Don’t be shy. Take as many photos as you like then send the best one to us”
NYC March 2013 Day 1-15 Some people are impressed by the pasta (sorry for fuzzy photo)NYC March 2013 Day 1-13I was impressed by the meat- rabbit, duck, pigeon and rendered duck fat. NYC March 2013 Day 1-14Must have a macchiatto before heading back to the streets.NYC March 2013 Day 1-16A quick break here to rest my tootsies, power up on a little rye bread, cheese and marmalade. Only 1.7 miles back to the apartment.NYC March 2013 Day 1-22The last event of the evening was an amazing dinner at Prune. More on Prune and other nibbles soon…IMG_3425

I’ll be back…

Tschüß xx

Stuffed French Toast… NYC & Hamburg

Stuffed French Toast… NYC & Hamburg

My last day in NYC started with brunch at Serenity T in Soho with my son and niece. The place gave mixed messages with it’s atmosphere and servers. An interesting menu, way laid back servers and  a little chaotic looking in the dining room. But the food was great. My niece, remember who juiced me a montage of vitamins, had the spa brunch choice and tea. They offered a cool tea service… hence the name Serenity T … Made me want to return my coffee in a glass mug. Pretty but cools too fast.

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NYC snapshots- Brooklyn to Upper East Side

I loved my four days in NYC. Both great quality time and fun do nothing time with my son and plenty of plodding around the city on my own. Each of my five of my senses, often simultaneously stimulated, could give you a recount of how we spent the days. Here is a visual recap with some support from the others.

I had a fun morning in Brooklyn visiting with my niece who pushed about eight pounds of fruits and vegetables through a juicer to produce two large gorgeous glasses of fresh juice. Sweet from the apple, with a bite from the kale, plus a hint of lemon, a reprieve from my days of indulgence. This deserved a photo but I was to wrapped up in the moment. So nice to have a few quiet moments face to face to catch up a little. Before wandering from her apartment we watched a NYPD traffic van illegally back up and rear end another car. Ouch. Also wrapped up in that moment, the cars were clearing as I thought to get my camera. Auditory… check.

From her apartment I wandered down Myrtle Ave, past Fort Greene Park in the direction of Pratt. As I mentioned, my grandparents met at Pratt Institute in 1924, fell in love and produced my father. Tragically, my grandfather, out for a spin on a buddy’s new motorcycle, died in an accident on that spur of the moment trip around the block. He left behind a small toddler and a woman who I believe lost her true love. But all events lead us to today and here I am, grateful.  Willie Thomas, my father, jazz musician and a legend in his own mind, also spent many years in this same neighborhood as a doorman by day and a fierce horn blower by night. I snapped shots of interest as I walked.

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NYC the first day

NYC the first day

I arrived into JFK in pretty good shape. I stay hydrated with water and emergen-C’s and put lotion on my hands and face about every hour to combat the plane air sucking the life and elasticity out of my skin. Our section was so open it really lent itself to a relaxed flight. People= energy.  Few people=calm. I’m sure the flight crew enjoyed the break too. My only complaint was I didn’t start Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy early enough to be finished before the “entertainment portion of our flight” switched off. Damn you flight attendant lady. This is a very confusing movie. Not one to be watched on a 5×5 screen with poor sound quality. And missing the last fifteen? minutes didn’t help. It’s on the rental que!

A long rainy traffic filled hour later I arrived at my big kid’s apt. We ordered in and relaxed. Talked about life and the next few days. I enjoyed the fact that these days ahead were going to unfold. No big agenda’s or script to follow.

I woke up my first full day here imagining what it would be like to wake up in this city everyday. Such an array of so many really different people with such vast cultural and economic diversity.  So many thoughts traveling through so many minds every morning before millions of feet hit the floor.

My thoughts started about 4.30am. I actually try to stay on an early track for these short trips to ease the transition back. I walked out the door about 10am and started at the bottom of Broadway (downtown) and made my way to Madison Square Garden. The day went a little something like this…

We all know how many hundreds/thousands of food stands are  on the streets here. I love them all.

But this cupcake one deserved a snap shot

These got me thinking, “I would like to have something sweet now”… O’s line following a meal. So I just happened to pass this great specialty food store you might have heard of and got myself a chocolate chip crumb cake with a fantastic proportion of crumb to cake. Like a lot of crumb. Good crumb I might add.

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On the move- NYC

On the move- NYC

I gave Chloe a big goodbye squeeze and kiss just yesterday morning before we left the house to drop her off at school and take me to the airport. Definitely no PDA at school… or within twenty feet of school. Or anywhere there might be peers. Although I did get a hug once in the mall with a circle of nearby friends. I smiled and she said, “yeah you owe me”.

Gave another big squeeze and big kiss to O at the Hamburg airport. I thank them both for giving me the freedom to take this trip.    I love you O!  I headed through security for my first strip down. I had the good fortune to be flying out at the same time as a very close friend, Teri. I had oodles of time so we had coffee and window shopped. We chatted about the differences between the states and Germany. I have to remember to appreciate the qualities of each in the moment and not yearn for one when I’m in the other. High on the German list is healthcare. It’s really unbelievable.

I arrived in London in a short ninety minutes. Walking around I enjoyed the freedom of thought, comprehension and communication in the old mother tongue. I stopped at WH Smith….

and devoured the English magazines…

I skimmed the gossip mags I hate to buy… the Brits love their Hello as seen by the magazine ravaging.

and bought Elle (for Tina Fey interview…oh fine… and the fantasy of getting really stylish), Photography for Beginners and UK Delicious.

                                                                 

Bags and bags of candy….I passed on these. Although I love twix.

but had to search hard for some good dark chocolate… which i did… and found…

At lunch I stopped at EAT, I realized my down vest had been on backwards since the last security…

Turkey breast and cranberry sandwhich, carrot mango lime juice and a millionaire’s shortbread.

pretty fresh for the airport…

I love airports. I think I observe more of the people and environment when I’m on my own. I even understood the guy next to me talking with his mouth full. gross. And then on the phone smacking his gums and chatting. wow.

A second security check and five wisecracks later I sat waiting to board for the long haul. I love the HSBC ads all over Heathrow…

On the plane I was almost excited to be there for eight straight hours. A couple movies, nap and reading…. and a row of four seats to myself!  SWEET. I love these new milk sticks… clever.

Ok… tomorrow a little look into NYC… wt

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