This NY Moment: Dinner for No Special Reason at Park Avenue Winter

Now This is Winter
City Guy surprised me by taking me to dinner at Park Avenue Winter on Saturday night. There's nothing like getting dressed up and going to a nice restaurant for no particular reason.When we arrived for our 6:30 reservation, the restaurant was still bathed in the warm light of the setting sun, and I struck by how peaceful and beautiful the space was. AvroKo, the celebrated design firm, responsible for making the restaurant over every season, really captured the best things about winter in their 2009 space, with soft grey fur on the wall, matching fur lined throw pillows on leather banquettes, bare branches in glass vases, gossamer white curtains, snakeskin place mats on wooden tables. These photos taken with my camera do not do the space justice.

Almost Perfect Meal
After taking our drink orders, the server came over with an amuse bouche of a potato fritter topped with a dollop of lemon creme fraiche. Crunchy on the outside, moist and warm on the inside. A great beginning. Then came a bread basket with brioche bun, walnut/raisin, pumpkin loaf and flat bread. The first two were very flavorful; the flat bread too hard.

I started with the cured lemon caesar salad; City Guy with the sweet bay scallops appetizer off the special menu. Both superb. The caesar salad had a tart dressing I really enjoyed; the scallops had been seared and covered in a sweet cream sauce--so soft and delicious, they melted in your mouth.

For my main course, I had the miso glazed lobster with clam chowder beurre blanc. The server brings you the split lobster then pours the beurre blanc over the lobster. You can use the toasted mini-baguette to sop up more of the sauce. It also comes with a small onion and arugula salad. This was by far the highlight of the night. Sweet, salty, tender, delicious.

I would highly recommend the potato latkes--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, served with two kinds of sauces--one was a rosemary sauce; the other, which was tangier, like a yogurt, was my favorite.

Sorry to say, City Guy's filet mignon over braised short rib was dry and flavorless, the nadir of the meal, if you will. Braised short ribs should be moist and the muscle fibers falling off the fork, but this had a consistency closer to pulled pork. Oh well. Perfection is a rare thing.

For dessert, we had to try the Chocolate cube--a box of hard chocolate filled with chocolate mousse with pieces of what I was told was fruit cake (though I didn't taste the fruit ), served with a side of ancho chill chocolate sorbet (okay, not great). If you're a chocoholic like me, you'll enjoy this sugar high. If not, you might find it too sweet. City Guy wished he had ordered the apple pie in a box.

Over the course of the night, the lights were dimmed, and couples and quads of Upper East siders, many of them over fifty and wearing jackets (which surprised us since the restaurant was recently on Gossip Girl), filled very corner of the dining room. The service was okay--not the best or the worst in town--a bit cold--but it did grow more negligent as the room filled. After our main course, it took our server a very long time before checking with us for our dessert order and later, to bring us our check. As Downtowners, we did feel a little out of place, but sometimes it's fun to be a tourist in your own town.

Great Find: Fishtail

I used to be a fan of Restaurant Week until I realized many participating restaurants (and often the ones with the most coveted reservations) don't do their best work during Restaurant Week. But, on Friday, Miss Fashion and I tried David Burke's new sustainable seafood restaurant Fishtail, and I had a really satisfying meal. To start, I had the lobster dumplings, which were wading in a red curry sauce. For my main course, I had their take on "Mac and Cheese," which features grilled calamari on pasta with parmesan, and for dessert, I had David Burke's signature cheesecake lollipops (cheesecake dipped in white or milk chocolate) served with a side of bubblegum whipped cream. The bubblegum whipped cream wasn't my thing, but the lollipops were great. With its whimsical depictions of fish on the walls, the upstairs dining room is bright, warm and inviting--like eating a casual meal in a friend's townhouse uptown. I look forward to going again and trying the many other tempting menu options.BTW, this photo shows the lull before the rush - the dining room was packed by 12:30 or so. We had a noon reservation.

Great Find: Broadway Dance Center

It's a new year--actually, if you're following the lunar calendar, today is New Year's Day. So happy new year. I love the "new" in new year because it's an opportunity to change my life for the better. Yes, I know, every moment can be a new beginning, today is the start of the rest of your life, blah blah, but there's something about having a clean slate that gives you that extra incentive to break the inertia.

In my life, I have this little list of not-quite-resolutions, i.e., things I'd like to attend to someday when other priorities in my life don't cut in line. Taking a dance class has been on that list for many years. I never missed a dance in high school or college, in my single days, I loved clubbing, and weddings, to me, are really an excuse for buttoned-up adults to let loose on the dance floor (thus, the popularity of the conga line.) I always assumed I was a pretty good dancer, but as I got older, I realized I didn't dance very often. When I did dance, I felt more self-conscious. I couldn't move like I used to. I felt like the tin man from Oz, and that's not very sexy.

NYC is THE dance capital of the country, and dance classes abound. So what, then, has held me back? The vision of my uncoordinated self flailing in a sea of perfectly svelte and graceful aspiring Broadway dancers--that's what. I'd researched and bookmarked some of the top studios in town years ago--Broadway Dance and Dance New Amsterdam, for example--but I'd always been suspect of how truly "beginner" the beginner classes were. Did "beginner" mean "I'm a professional ballerina, but have never taken hip-hop" or "I haven't taken a dance class since I was eight." (me)?

Which is why I was so overjoyed to find Broadway Dance's Absolute Beginner Workshops:

A tradition started in 1993, The Absolute Beginner Workshop offers introductory instruction in the beautifully diverse styles of dance — for ADULTS ONLY! This exceptional program will ignite your passion and spirit for dance. If you have always wanted to dance or dreamed of dancing, these workshops are created just for you!

They read my mind, I thought. Still doubtful, I had called to confirm that adults who haven't danced since they were eight years old were the core audience for this class, and the girl on the phone had assured me it was so.

Long story short, I've been taking a ten-week Hip-Hop workshop. I've had three classes so far, and it's exactly what I was looking for. The studios and facilities are immaculate and modern. I love getting there a little early and walking through the halls and watching the other classes in session through the glass windows. Very inspiring.

The class moves at a swift, but manageable pace, which means it doesn't coddle you but it's not leaving you in the dust. There are about 25 people in the class, and I love my instructor (Chio). You start with warm ups, do some basic moves, then work on a routine. You definitely sweat. After my first class, I was sore for days, but my body's getting used to moving in these strange new ways, so now I'm not sore at all. I think you have to be wiling to look like a fool in order to take this class, especially if you haven't had a lot of dance experience, but if you just focus on the instructor and keep telling yourself you can practice the moves later (i.e., your flailing is only temporary)--you'll enjoy yourself. It's so much fun, especially when you start to move like a real dancer.

When I get home from class, I do my routines for City Guy. He laughs and says I don't look very scary yet, but you just wait - seven weeks from now, I'll be fierce, yo!

Happenings: Japan C

This afternoon, Miss Fashion and I went to Felissimo Design House on 56th St & 5th Ave to check out the 11-week celebration of Japan product design, known as "Japan C." On Monday, the exhibit will begin its final week, but for 10 weeks, each week has had a theme--for instance, paper products, Japanese make-up, household products, or Japanese foods, which was the theme this past week. The nice thing about going today is that you can see products from the entire run of the showcase all at once. And next week, they're having an auction to sell the items being displayed.

Don't be fooled by the anemic displays on the first floor. There's a lot more to see on the four floors of the design house. Some of the stuff they're showing you could just as easily find at a Japanese grocery or department store--stationary, Hello Kitty figurines and bento boxes, for instance. But there were a few items that jumped out at me.The freeze-dried Koya tofu you see on this table caught Miss Fashion's eye. Just soak in water, and you have tofu!Okurin--officially marketed as "recyclable gift bags" - these bunny shaped canvas bags unzip at the mouth and hold things. I love that the Japanese so love to give gifts they've developed an eco-friendly way to do it.Cedar laptop case, anyone?Not like we haven't seen stuff like this before, but how cute are these persimmons, each with their own facial expression?

Nezca--Swarovski-studded rope essentially. Crafters, let your imaginations run wild.Random dogs in aloha shirts.At first glance, a platter of lovely cakes and parfaits...On closer examination, they're made of towels!
A "file cabinet" style recycling in-home recycling station. Perfect for cramped Manhattan kitchens!

Great Find: Suba

Suba, a Spanish tapas restaurant on Ludlow in the Lower East Side, has great food. The restaurant has a bar on street level, then a room over a pool on the second level called the "grotto" and a third, more quiet level below that. On Saturday, City Guy and I treated ourselves to a tasty dinner there--one of the best deals in town, it turns out.

For $50 a head, you get seven course chef's tasting menu. The items on the menu are sort of a surprise, i.e., not listed on the menu, but you can ask your waiter to exclude certain items or request others that sound good. Our menu had everything, from octopus to sweet corn risotto with suckling pig to this tasty egg, potato and mushroom concoction:It tastes better than it sounds, and this picture doesn't do it justice. The chef does amazing things with potatoes and sauces too. It's flavorful, rich food, and they've got a good amount of space, so it might be a good place for a dinner party with friends. On Sundays at 8 pm, they have a flamenco show.

People on Chowhound seem to prefer the grotto for the pool, but to tell you the truth, I'm glad we sat in the more private lower level b/c the smell of chlorine from the pool water was pretty strong. I don't like smelling chlorine while tasting my food, but that's just me. I've got a super sensitive nose.

By the way, it's not the most quiet restaurant. We got there around 8 pm, and it wasn't so bad (see how empty the room looks in the pictures above), but around 9 or so, it was packed, and then it got harder to converse.

Great Find: Perry Street

I love Jean Georges Vongerichten. He's my favorite celebrity chef and my lunch today at Perry Street confirms for me yet again that he is a culinary genius. I had a bit of a hard time finding the place. It's called Perry Street, but the entrance to the restaurant is actually on West Street, not Perry Street, in the 176 Perry Street building designed by Richard Meier, so if you don't notice the etching on the glass door you may miss it. But what's new? I always get lost in the West Village.

My friend from LA and I were the first ones for a noon reservation. The space is gorgeous--minimalist, open, relaxed and luxurious. I loved the wooden tables and white leather chairs and banquettes. A great combination. The restaurant was designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen, who reportedly designed Jean-Georges' own home. With the $24 prix-fixe lunch you get to pick any two items off the menu and you get dessert. That's a great deal for a three-course lunch at a place like Perry Street!

We started off with an amuse bouche of strawberry soup with cucumber foam--so refreshing! I had the cream of tomato soup, which came with this lovely chili sauce and a slice of sourdough with fresh cheddar and basil sprinkled on top, and the roasted chicken sandwich with avocado and chipotle-lime mayo. I don't usually go for chicken sandwiches at five-star restaurants, but the server recommended it, so I took a chance. It was so delicious. The chicken had a little bit of skin on it, preserving its juiciness, and the sauce and the avocado and lettuce were a perfect compliment. My friend had the sauteed shrimp and crab salad--both very tasty from the bites I had. For dessert, we both had the molten chocolate cake--didn't blow my mind, but done well nonetheless.

The meal made us happy. The space made us happy. We lingered for a couple hours, could actually hear each other talking, and didn't feel rushed. And being all the way out there on the Westside Highway made it feel like we weren't in NYC at all...which sometimes can be a good thing.

Great Find: Sasabune

One of my favorite restaurants in LA was Sasabune. Any in-the-know Angeleno knows that Sasabune's hand-picked daily fish selection, the "trust me" chef's omakase, the heavenly combination of fish on a warm bed of rice, the no california rolls rule, the perfect sauces and garnishes and homemade soy sauce equals unrivaled sushi pleasure.

This little Upper East side gem flies under the radar--perhaps b/c it's located way east on 1st Avenue or because there's no celebrity chef draw (I've eaten at Morimoto and Nobu and still think Sasabune is better)--and has been open since the end of 2006. It's a shame it took me this long to eat here, but I'm glad I finally did. What an amazing meal.

Great Find: Gotham Magazine

I have no idea why I get Gotham Magazine mailed to me every month. I don't recall subscribing (it's $70 a year!), but I have noticed a lot of Gotham Magazines in our mail room, so maybe it's a zip code thing--is 10006 a posh zip? It's certainly no 10013 (Tribeca) which Gotham Magazine spotlight's this month in it's Cracking the Code column, but hey, I'm not complaining.

Anyhow, in the past, I flipped through the many pages of society photos and quickly threw the magazine into the recycling bin, but today, for some reason, something clicked. I devoured this month's issue from cover-to-cover in one sitting.

Here are some highlights:

• the annual Gotham 100 best dressed list--filled with fashion editors, society moms, actors, music moguls, and designers
• interviews with Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl gives me the same fashion-candy high that Sex and the City once did--love that show!) and Rachel Zoe, whose new reality show I love
• some cool NY people & places that were new to me: Eleanor Ylvisaker of Ernest Sewn (jeans), R&Y Augousti (home design & handbags), Archivia Books (art books), Argosy Books (rare books), Hudson River Park tennis courts, Ililii (Mediterranean restaurant) and Jeffrey NY (according to NY Mag, a cooler version of Bergdorf's)
• comparison chart of the best in NYC chocolate: Chocolate Bar, Cafe Charbonnel, Jacques Torres, La Maison du Chocolat and another article on the benefits of chocolate with high cocoa content (look for cocoa from Columbia, Ecuador, & Venezuela)
  
• events to take note of: Bicycle for a Day is September 20, the new Museum of Arts & Design at Columbus Circle is opening September 27, and Japan C, an 11-week exhibition of all things Japanese is ongoing

And I'm just sharing half the things I jotted down for future reference! Has the editorial gotten better? Or is it just the Fall Fashion issue? We'll see what's October's issue looks like, but this one was a real pleasure to read. Life in NYC seems so much cooler when you're seeing it through the eyes of the Gotham editors.

Great Find: Colony Music Center

Earlier this week, I was looking for a place where I could buy piano books in the City (having recently resumed playing the piano) and remembered passing an old music store in mid-town with a bunch of sheet music in the window: Colony Music.

The store bills itself as the largest karaoke and sheet music store in the world, so I was a bit surprised it was only one floor, but what a fun place. Like stepping back in time. All the sheet music you can find--I certainly found what I came for (walked out with four books). But what I love about the store is the old school feeling. Nothing's slick or corporate about this place, not even the laconic musicians who work here. It also sells movie posters, records, and rock-n-roll & TV memorabilia, like these TV guides, which I found in the Rock Collectibles section in the back... ...and these old TV show & rock star trading cards, which can be found at the register:
My only question is how old is that gum?

Neighborhood: Cobble Hill

Miss Fashion, who grew up in Brooklyn and is helping me discover new neighborhoods outside of Manhattan, suggested we meet in Cobble Hill last night for dinner. I had previously fallen in love with DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, but my evening in Cobble Hill was even better in some ways. This neighborhood reminded me of the Lower East Side, without the grit. I mean, people were mellow and smiled and sat at sidewalk cafes eating dinner with their kids and dogs.

First, we met up at Borough Hall and walked around the neighborhood, where Miss Fashion pointed out the beautiful brownstones. There were kids and parents everywhere, and at one point, we witnessed a returning father being greeted by his wife and kid at the door. A very sweet moment.

We then went to One Girl Cookies on Dean Street whose reputation is built on their Whoopie Pies and amazing cookies. Being the sweet-fiends we are, we both loaded up. Let me just say the pumpkin whoopie pie is amaaaazzing! And the Lucia cookie (the one with the black and white marble frosting) just sent my endorphins soaring. So good. And how cute is their store? So much bigger than bakeries in Manhattan with an entire seating area in the back, where you can just sit with your girlfriends and get your sugar rush on. I will definitely be back.

We strolled down Smith Street (Brooklyn's "Restaurant Row" according to some) and I was surprised by how many adorable boutiques there were, including Bird, which had great dresses and accessories, including foldable commuter shoes/ballet flats with carrying case:...and another whose name I forget that carries the cutest Vivienne Westwood rubber Mary Janes and Wedges, which Miss Fashion was crazy for. And we stopped in at Rime, this streetwear store that sold Kid Robot stuff, including both tricked out and do-it-yourself Munny's. They were having a DIY Munny contest actually. There was a Flight 001, where I stopped in for some travel accessories and we also passed Brooklyn Industries, though we didn't stop in. There were just too many cute stores and not enough time.

You've got to love Cobble Hill's broad selection of restaurants, from Cuban to Thai to Italian to French. On Pacific, the Angeleno in me got excited when passing the surf-shack Mexican restaurant called Pacifico and seafood joint called Trout (although the blogosphere seem less than enthusiastic about the food) But we ended up eating in the outdoor patio of Apartment 138 because Miss Fashion had heard good things:I had a Caesar Salad and a classic burger slider. The food was really delicious, esp considering restaurants seem to slack off when it comes to the slider. This one had a lovely toasted brioche bun and perfectly cooked patty and sauce. Yum! And the Caesar had a uniquely tart dressing that I really enjoyed.

Miss Fashion and I talked a lot about finding a neighborhood to call home in NYC and all the factors that go into that decision. I'm still haven't weened myself off Manhattan, but I'm beginning to think that in the future, with more excursions like last night's, I may change my mind.

Great Find:Financier Patisserie

People always complain that the Financial District isn't homey, and well, it may not be as homey as some other parts of NYC. But if you're looking for a place to have coffee with a friend or are craving some french pastries, Financier Patisserie on Stone Street is a great spot for a number of reasons.

1> It's on Stone Street, a historic cobblestone street that still smacks of the days when George Washington was hanging out in the 'hood.
2> I love french macarons. They are one of my favorite things in life. Good ones, that is. Not those dry little round imposters some cafes pass off as the real thing. And Financier's got decent ones. Moist, good flavors. It's no Laduree or Pierre Herme, but when one can't get to Paris, one makes do. They've also got palmiers, madeleines, and an amazing looking apple galette.
3> They serve Illy coffee, which I have it on good authority is quality coffee, notches above Starbucks. In the morning, your coffee order comes with a yummy little financier.
4> Gelato!
5> It's not Starbucks!

Great Find: Ibiza Kids

A friend of mine had a baby last month, and I've been putting off buying a baby gift b/c I didn't want to do the easy and generic thing and just go to Baby Gap or Babies R Us. I've always known there are a number of these beautiful little baby gift boutiques around NYC, but never really took note. Yesterday, I found Ibiza Kids on 4th Ave, betweeen 10th and 11th st.

You could easily pass this place by, as it's on a less trafficked part of the Astor Place area, but it's a great source for lovely, unique baby clothes, shoes, toys. They sell fairy wings for girls and the most stylish little shoes and of course, sassy little onesies, like the one I purchased. Isn't this a riot? It's very 2008, don't you think? When my friend's son gets older, if they keep this onesie around, it can be something they can laugh about.

Great Find: East Village Cheese

Yesterday, while killing time before the screening of "Playing" at the Tribeca Film Festival, I wandered into East Village Cheese on 3rd Ave, just south of 10th for the first time. I found to my delight a small, unpretentious store (they advertise their specials on butcher paper stuck to the storefront window, as seen here) stocked full of inexpensive, high quality cheeses, first and foremost, but also olives, baguettes, imported cookies, drinks, crackers. Just to give you an idea of how good their prices are, a pound of brie cost me $1.50, whereas it's $3.50 at Zeytuna, and $4.00 for a pound of mozerella (vs. $9+ at Whole Foods). I guess I've found a new favorite gourmet food store.

Great Find: Minas Shoe Repair

Finding a great shoe repair guy is like finding a great doctor...for your shoes. You trust the guy, believe he cares and hope he doesn't retire. I feel lucky to have one of these: Minas at Minas Shoe Repair at 67 Wall Street.

I love the old guy, who must have been trained by a real cobbler, because his work makes me want to weep. I never think twice when I hand over my beloved boots or heels or City Guy's favorite work shoes because I know they'll come back looking like new and in most cases, the replacement heel or sole will last longer and look better than the original.

His daughter works the front desk and is such a pleasure to deal with. Really sweet and patient. She always seems remember me even when I haven't been back for months. I tried a handful of other shoe repairs when I first moved to NYC, and I was always disappointed in the quality and craftsmanship of the product (and my uncle used to have a shoe repair store when I was a kid, so I know the difference). I couldn't believe what people charged for their shoddy work! Really made me feel I was getting taken for a ride.

Minas just takes you back to a time when people cared for their things--didn't just toss their shoes out and replace them with cheap shoes made of plastic. They invested in high quality leather shoes, and got them repaired. This place doesn't miss a beat. You and your buddy can get an old school shoe shine in minutes and you can drop off five pairs of shoes on a Friday (which I did today) and get them back by Monday.

So, there you have it. Minas Shoe Repair gets beaucoup Home Sweet NYC love. I just hope they don't get priced out of the neighborhood--in the last year, a Tumi and a Pink have opened next door and a Tiffany a block down.