Inspiration on a cold day

Brassai.

Today I had the lovely lovely pleasure of wandering around 5th ave with my mother's best friend from Wellesley, the Lovely Laura! She is a former curator at MoMA and an total art junkie. I'm embarrassed to admit I haven't been to a gallery since moving the NYC (judge away!).

I realized only after meeting up with her that Laura just assumed that we'd spend the afternoon visiting galleries and generally soaking up the city-- she's lived here for forty years and she's a city-soaking pro. But for once in my life, I actually knew of a show that I was dying to see! PLUS it closes on Friday so it was rawther urgent AND it was just a few blocks away at the terrific Edwynn Houk Gallery!

So, we headed that way, stopping at other galleries just twice along the way to blow my mind with amazing modern art at every turn. I'm 25 and I should really know this by now but the galleries are really works of art in themselves- shining and scared, they hide up in seemingly heartless buildings. Ring the poorly marked buzzer, and ride the elevator up with faith, a quiet sort of thrill awaits you.

After a little of this (captivating paintings by nine artists who were active in the 1950's abstract impressionist movement), and a brief bit of that (pop-ish paintings by Kikuo Saito), we arrived at the Houk gallery and I saw Paris in the 30's at last!

An image is worth a thousand words...

Indeed!

So yesterday was VERY boring and difficult because David and I decided to go on a little 24 hour cleanse. Well. . . I thought it sounded like a good idea and then David, sweet, wonderful, dream boyfriend that he is cheerfully said that he'd do it with me. I am a fan of Mireille Guiliano's snobby-fab bible, French Women Don't Get Fat, and I must admit that I have occasionally found solace in the Miracle Leek Soup weekend that she suggests as a way to 'reset' one's system.

Since moving to New York, we've basically been living on Bagels and Cream Cheese from our local (amazing!) bagel shop, the aptly named La Bagel Delight and pizza slices from anywhere and everywhere. Essentially bread and cheese with some more bread and cheese in case round one wasn't enough. Sooo what I'm saying is that I finally found out what happens to your body when that's all you eat, and it's not as great as I'd hoped. One word: bloat. Eww.

Well, the leek "soup" worked it's magic (mostly, still not prefect, but let's be honest, after a day of broth, I got hungry), so tonight David and I feasted! Today was also my first official day at my FAB new job as a Hostess, so there was much to toast at our first REAL honest sit-down restaurant dinner since arriving in New York!

Blue Ribbon Brasserie is Seafood PARADISE! And it's a pleasant 4 block stroll from our humble abode, basically it's the awesomest thing ever! It's also kind of dark in there so I only got one picture, but you get the idea- candles, a carafe of Bourdeaux, calamari pan-fried in BROWN BUTTER and parsley (and may I say, gush and melt and heaven heavenly), not to mention this little beauty...



...of course by little, I mean so incredibly ginormous that David and I took half of it home. HALF! Have you met us! Loaded with big, tender clams, mussels, squid, shrimp and spicy sausages, it was a steal at $32.

Celebrating on a Monday night, I love it so! Cheers my loves!

the Happiest Hour. . .

...is Happy Hour at Home!



Last night I treated myself to a Delilah (or a White Lady, but for a myriad of reasons I prefer Delilah), and it is delicious! You can find both actually in the Mr. Boston book, but I was a bit confused by the two recipes-- they are quite different and I didn't know which I would prefer-- so I just sort of winged it! I think it turned out rather well, don't you?



Roughly:

1 shot Gin (I used Bombay Dry, which never fails)
1/2 shot Cointreau (I used Grand Marnier because the only Cointreau at the store was a ginormo $50 bottle)
1/2 a lemon, squeeeeeeeeezed out as much a you can! No seeds, now. (No fake juice, either, so watch it!)

Shake it up!! Check out my fancy, makeshift shaker!



And Cheers! This calls for a little snack with your bevvy and I'd say you're set for a lovely evening in!

I HATE CONDE NAST!!!

I stumbled this morning upon my usual perusal of Frank Bruni's Diner'ss Journal a piece about the impending death of Gourmet Magazine.

Wait. WHAT!?!?!?! Bon Appetit, ok, sure, it's kind of a dumbed down, ho-hum magazine and thus I could see cancelling it with out much to-do. A single tear, maybe.

But GOURMET!? Lush, vivid, fountain of inspiration?! I absolutely can't believe it. I have been a subscriber as long as I can remember and I am pretty much devastated, and I am surely not alone.

I'm also a little disappointed in my fellow food loving cohorts, everywhere I see R.I.P. Gourmet when I feel like I should be seeing a Vive la Revolution! Let's band together and revolt! Cancel those Vogue subscriptions and send nasty (conde nasty, sorry I couldn't resist) letters! Let's save Gourmet!

VIVE LA GOURMET MAGAZINE!!!!

Miranda & Maison & Magnolia, Oh My!

Calming, isn't it? I just hope you appreciate how impossible it was for me to narrow these pictures down. Lesson of the day (which I suppose I of all people should have already known!):

Chocolate is Beauty.



Following a brief (and unfortunately rawther early) foray into DUMBO, my current favorite 'hood here in the BK for what should be OBVIOUS reasons, David and I felt the need for a little play time in the city! Hmm, but what's the perfect short but so satisfying adventure?



La Maison du Chocolat of COURSE!!



Very New York and glamorous, La Maison is tres chic and tres luxurious. You sort of simply must take a petit bite. . .ChocoCarnage! Sacre Bleu!



Mmmm, tres shiny!



When at La Maison, it is important to allow oneself time to take in every last detail and read every last petit label. Ask questions, but if you know what's good for you I'd steer clear of price issues- c'est TRES gauche. This is a treat, so just . . .



...drink it up and don't worry your pretty little head. Chocolates, like cheese and wine, are an everyday luxury and isn't it that so lovely of them?

Oh yes, and then it's often a good idea to follow up La Maison with a little jaunt to Magnolia Bakery for a 75 cent palate cleanser of all-American goodness.



They're even better than they look. Oh YES. Peanut Buttery goodness. YES.

MANHATTAN

(mn-htn, mn-)
1. A borough of New York City in southeast New York, mainly on Manhattan Island at the north end of New York Bay. Peter Minuit of the Dutch West Indies Company bought the island in 1626 from the Manhattan Indians, supposedly for $24 worth of merchandise. The settlement of New Amsterdam, renamed New York when the English assumed control in 1664, quickly spread from the southern tip of the island, eventually becoming the financial and commercial center of the United States.

Play was the sole purpose of this particular Monday. In fact, I propose that play should be the purpose of every Monday from here on out. At least as long as I live in this pounding, pulsing heart of a city.

Determined to start at the obvious beginning as a tourist in my own city, heading up todays itinerary was Battery Park, the glorious Empire State Building and a speakeasy of sorts, with a little wiggle room here and there. Sunshine pouring in our windows this morning helped to get the day going a little sooner than usual, and with the exemplary Empire State of Mind on repeat in our heads and our MetroCards in hand, we headed out!

Sitting at the very tip of Manhattan, Battery Park is already pretty dramatic place. Choppy, glittering waters of the Atlantic crash up against the Pier (Peir 1, hahaha. I'm such a nerd), and then you look up and she's just sort of there.


Smaller than I expected, the Statue of Liberty is powerful in a way that few other things are, not to state the obvious or anything.

The weather started to cloud up a bit, and we really wanted to get to the top of the Empire State Building before the forecast thunderstorms, so we hopped the 1 train up to Penn station! Phew all that transit hopping and sightseeing left us in need of a pick me up, which lead to my second Pumpkin Ale of the season.

By the way, it was hugely more delicious than the first, which really surprised me seeing as this pub was actually inside the ESB and thus assumed to be an icky tourist trap.

Despite the very kind warnings of the neon vested vendors out front (who promised that the special express tickets they sold for just twice the price of a regular ticket)we were zipping up the 86 floors to the top of the city before we knew it! Apparently Monday afternoon is an excellent time to go. Who knew!


What I found most striking up there was the peace and quiet. It was almost like being in church, and everyone around you is worshiping at the alter of Quintessential Manhattan. Maybe they just want a better view of Central park. Maybe they're reliving a marriage proposal, or showing their kids something new and special. Or maybe they just want a moment of calm, a chance to grasp a city that can be so elusive.

Personally, I'm rather partial to the Chrysler Building.


Back on the ground, I found that I just couldn't resist the pull of H&M. Poor David was quite patient, so as a reward I took us out for an absolutely cocktail to toast our day on the town.

By the time the F popped us out at 14th street, rain was posatively spilling down on us. Thankfully, the Flatiron Lounge is cozy and luscious and it made me sort of feel like Nora Charles, which is exactly what I want to feel like all the time, most especially at the end of a long day. Doesn't everyone?


David sipped blissfully away at his usual, a lovely sidecar. Best he'd ever had! And for me, a lovely spritz of a drink called a Lullaby- Apricot eau de vie, bubbles and a little whisper of Absinthe.


A perfect New York day. There really isn't anyplace I'd rather be, and that's quite a nice thing to feel.

A lot all at once

Between school and work I am totally fried.Things will surely be better soon, as I'll likely be quitting said job tomorrow (details to come pending coherency) which I know sounds sad and drastic is actually something I've found enlightening and even quite empowering!!

However, I do still love you little blog, and have thought of you often! See, here's photographic evidence!

Firstly, I was here:



having the first Pumpkin Ale of the season, a little pick me up before class...



with this guy:



Wondering how you become fabulous enough to live here:



So much to think about! We're getting more settled by the day and though much is not perfect, I finally have a kitchen I can really cook in. To celebrate, I procured myself a little bit of a treat, namely these lovelies:



and I chopped them up with my fancy pink knives and turned them into this:



topped with this:



and there you have it! I got more pleasure out of that simple act then any meal out we've had yet, even Shake Shack!! (which as you saw is saying a lot!)

Well, sorry to be of so few words, graduate school seems to demand most of my word-use ability these days, but once I get in the swing of things, watch out!! I'll be back in force, NYC style!

SHAKE SHACK!!!!

Shake shack shake shack shake shack! I'd like to thank the fine folks over at Ed Levine's mahhhhvelous website, Serious Eats, for informing me of the fact that the Upper West Side outpost of the Shake Shack was serving up this Labor Day treat :



That's right, the Most Delicious Corn Dog You Have Ever Had. I ordered with guilt-free abandon as we had trekked all the way across the Brooklyn Bridge this morning in our Lazy day wanderings. Mmmm I love my new home.



During and after the blissful ingestion, I could be heard mumbling 'Perfect Ratio, Perfect Ratio', which pretty much sums up the experience. Really nice ratio of beefy, seasony hot dog + crispy on the outside, slightly creamy corny on the inside shell = Happy Me.

A few bites of the unbeatable classic rounded out this perfect Labor day repast.



Thanks, D. You're the best, even if I only got one bite.

School starts tomorrow, and I'm feeling quite fortified! Cheers!

No Sleep Til. . .

Brooklyn!!

Well, we're here! We've already been here a week actually, and it's taken that long for us to get settled enough just to have an actual place to sit in our apartment that is comfortable enough to perch on for long enough to write this blog! (How many times can I say 'enough' in one sentance?)

Phew! But I haven't forgotten you yet, my dear blog, and I even took a few pictures of our new life here.

The first meal cooked in our apartment! Salade Nicoise, or as we call it, Stuffy Salad. And wine of course!



Speaking of, there is a wine shop on EVERY LAST corner here in New York, which really assisted in making me feel welcome and at home.

Seriously though, I've got to admit, I'm pretty proud of us. This is a big move, two west coasters making a new life for themselves here in the Big Apple. I know it's an old tune, but it's quite something. We're growing up before our very eyes! New York City feels like a test, and I know it's too early, but I have a sneaking suspicious we're going to pass. Thanks to a few good friends, our apartment has been thouroughly warmed and even reheated!



All in all, I'd say we're pretty lucky. I can't wait to see where this ride takes us.

Beaker & Flask

Two days to go here in my beloved Portland, and I realized today that meant I had some serious prioritizing to do! Between Laurelhurst Market, Beaker and Flask, Evoe, and of course revisits to some old stand bys, I was faced with too many meals and not enough time to eat them in!

Let me emphasize how difficult this prioritizing was-- VERY VERY difficult. However, Beaker and Flask leapt to the front of the list when peckish-ness struck this evening because they have a fab happy hour and I am being cheap-o these days for quite obvious reasons. (I hear NYC is a bit on the pricey side, please let me know if I'm incorrect. I doubt I'll believe you though.)

Beaker & Flask was SUCH a disappointment because I am moving in THREE DAYS and I can only conceivably imbibe another three (four if I push it) of their dazzling cocktails.

THIS is the seductively named Night & Fog;



Cynar (pronounced CHI-nar), Oloroso Sherry, Ginger Beer, and just a splash of bitters. Savory, caramel and smooth all at once, I could drink these all night, especially at happy hour prices-- $5 is hard to beat.

As for snacks, which I believe I have mentioned are my favorite food, B&F outdoes itself. See?



Or if you really must have some greens, as I often must, lovely lettuce with creamy tarragon vinaigrette is passable I'd say, wouldn't you?



Stupidly reasonable price-wise, happy hour or no, these will keep you cocktailing responsibly until the wee hours.

Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs? Yes, please.



Beaker & Flask. If you have the means, I highly recommend a visit. It is so choice.