Bouley Restaurant

Bouley Restaurant

In the early 1980’s, I used to spend every weekend at the Ram’s Head Inn on Shelter Island. One Friday evening, having arrived after the restaurant’s kitchen had closed, my husband and I ordered the last of the crème brulee left in the pantry. The following evening, the amazing chef, Ray Bradley, came to our table to meet those people who ate 7 crème brulee the previous evening. And Ray began telling us about his dear friend, David Bouley, who was opening a new restaurant in Manhattan, the first to focus on local produce.

The original Bouley was a magical place, which smelled of apples and sugar. The herb infused sauces were sublime and every dish was a perfect balance of flavor and beauty. I love bread and David Bouley bakes the most fabulous bread on this planet, my personal favorite being the olive bread. We ate there often and always when my brother came to visit from California.

Later, this great chef opened Bouley Bakery around the corner and served his masterpieces in a slightly more casual atmosphere. Then came September 11^th. I heard that Bouley shut down and the staff alongside David Bouley, were cooking for the volunteers who came from all over the world. I went to help and after burning myself four times in five minutes while trying to cook salmon, the Maitre D’ sent me to serve at Ground Zero.

In your wildest dreams you could not imagine the quality of the food being transported to the “green tarp.” Salmon, chicken, varieties of vegetables, many desserts and of course his signature bread. Word got around pretty quickly that the food being served for free under the green tarp was infinitely superior to the food from the MacDonald’s stand nearby. And the thanks from the volunteers made all of us know how much his food was appreciated.

If I had to pick one favorite restaurant in New York, it is Bouley. Always rated highly in Zagats, David Bouley is a true New York hero and an outstanding chef. And, one of his sous chefs opened the only restaurant in Brooklyn to get 3 Michelin Stars…a testament to his great ability to share his expertise.

Summer in the City

Summer in the City

Summertime in New York City can be brutal with temperatures in the 90’s and heat radiating off the buildings and sidewalks. But on summer weekends, the city is virtually empty; you can get into any restaurant. Restaurant week 2013 lasts from July 22^nd to August 16^th when you pay only $25.00 for a three course lunch and $38.00 for a three course dinner at many of the city’s finest restaurants.

Throughout the summer, Central Park and Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, Crotona Park in The Bronx, Cloves Lake Park in Staten Island, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island, Metrotech and Prospect Park in Brooklyn come alive with outdoor concerts, movies and performances. The New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera stage free (yes, free!) performances where you can bring a picnic basket and a blanket and sit on the lawn to listen to extraordinary world class music. From May to August, you can attend a variety of concerts for free from Blues to opera to Indie Rock. Even the Martha Graham Company stages free performances.

On summer weekends, street fairs with every imaginable type of food pop up throughout the five boroughs, the High Line is emptied of New Yorkers, all the stores have sales, some at even 90% off to make room for incoming fall styles. Just go to the back of each floor in Saks Fifth Avenue, Barney’s, Bergdorf Goodman and find that perfect outfit marked down from $1000.00 to $100.00.

There is another alternative: head to the beach. Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are located in the Hamptons and Fire Island.  It’s an easy train ride to Bayshore, Long Island where you can hop on any ferry to cross the Great South Bay and walk 3 blocks to the ocean in Fair Harbor, Ocean Beach or any of the tiny towns across the Island.  Or take the train to Montauk, dine on lobsters, swim in the ocean or even go whale watching and deep-sea fishing.

If you have a car, head out to Shelter Island, located in between the North and South Forks of Long Island. You can take the car ferry from Greenport on the North Fork or North Haven (just north of Sag Harbor) and watch a glorious sunset at the famous Sunset Beach Hotel & restaurant located on Crescent Beach.  My favorite restaurant is Vine Street but there are many other fabulous ones including La Maison Blanche, which has awesome food or the Ram’s Head in where the food is mediocre but the view from the outdoor tables is spectacular.

If you go via the North Fork, there is a huge assortment of wineries and a vodka distillery on the way. Many are worth a stop and a quick taste and welcome small groups. You can continue all the way to the end of the North Fork where you can drive on to the car ferry to Block Island (which is actually part of Rhode Island) where the pace is slow and the beaches are dramatic. It is a huge boating community with sailboats, trawlers and speed boats.

Summer in the City is magical…if you can stand the heat!

NYC in May

One of the most distressing things about New York City is our airports. JFK, LaGuardia and Newark are ranked among the worst airports in the country. I arrived back in New York, JFK airport (from Israel) last week. Because I have a Known Traveler pass and I don’t ever check any luggage, I was off the plane and out the door in about 8 minutes. Then I spent an hour and a half on the taxi line. So here is a tip which I stupidly didn’t follow myself: Book a private car to pick you up at the airport. I find Carmel (https://www.carmellimo.com) very reliable but you need a working cell phone so they can locate you in the chaos of New York’s airports. And of course, though pricey, Uber always works!

Once you have survived the chaos of JFK, it is a joy to be in New York in May; the weather is great, the Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom all over the city and you no longer need a winter coat. The most lovely are the blossoms at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. 

Luna Park in Coney Island has reopened which is a wonderful place to spend the day with children. To get there, you can take the D, N, F or Q trains to the end. Ruby’s, the oldest bar on the boardwalk is a simple, casual place to eat. The Thunderbolt, a 115 foot tall roller coaster, opens on Memorial Day weekend. A stroll along the board walk is an experience every New Yorker should have. And for younger children, there is always the Aquarium.

In the evening, one of my favorite things to do is go to the Comedy Cellar on MacDougal Street between West 3rd Street and Bleecker. You must make reservations on line and once you arrive, stand on line to get in. Its worth it. Quite often, very famous comedians appear as an added attraction. And since the weather is so lovely, you won’t mind the wait on line. 

The neighborhood has both casual and elegant restaurants. Right above the Comedy Cellar is the Olive Tree Cafe and Bar with decent Mediterranean food. You also have Mamoun’s next door for pretty good falafel. Directly across the street is Minetta Tavern which opened in 1937 and was bought and refurbished by the famous restauranteur, Keith McNally. The food, like all of his restaurants is excellent, albeit expensive. And you can go after the show because its a late night hot spot! For coffee, a few doors down is Cafe Reggio, a crowded little cafe with excellent espresso and cappuccino. 

The night life in Manhattan really doesn’t start until about 11:00 pm and continues until 4:00 am unless you are lucky enough to find an after hours place. Max Fish at 178 Ludlow Street, a hipster dive bar is considered one of the best pick-up places in the city. 1 Oak at 415 17th Street, although difficult to get into, is full of celebrities but doesn’t really get lively until 2:00 am. Kiss and Fly in the Meatpacking District is on the wild side but can be entered by giving money to the doorman. 

One of the best dance clubs is Santo’s Party House with cheap drinks and a place to party hard.” Beatrice in on West 12th Street is probably the hardest club to get into unless you are absolutely gorgeous. Cielo on Little West 12th Street has a $25 cover charge but you can sometimes get on the guest list through their Facebook page. Le Bain at 444 West 13th Street has fabulous views of Manhattan and the Hudson River. You must be very well dressed and there are always long lines. Culture Club at 20 West 39th Street is more nostalgic with music from the 80’s and 90’s but has a $25.00 cover charge. The Sullivan Room has the best house music of any of the clubs but doesn’t get started until 1:00 am. 

If you wish to venture to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, try Bembe where women get in free and men pay a $5. to $10 cover charge. Muscially, it is culturally diverse including salsa, samba, reggae and calypso. They serve coconut drinks in real coconuts. The other Williamsburg dance club is Output at 74 Wythe Avenue. Its probably the finest dance club in the city without a VIP section.

All of these clubs are primarily for the under 40 set. 

New Yorkers are some of the most judgmental people on earth; we like to criticize everything we come across and to point out how fabulous our own experiences have been. However, when someone judges in an unfairly harsh manner, New Yorkers come out in droves in opposition. Such was the case with Guy Fieri’s new restaurant in the theatre district.

In all fairness, we know that Times Square is a culinary wasteland filled with mediocre chains that charge exorbitant prices for forgettable meals. However, it is worth our time to at least give new, original places a chance. The vicious review of Fieri’s lovely new spot, Guy’s American Kitchen & Bar, located in the prime Broadway location seemed more like a personal vendetta than an objective review. I went there with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised. Yes, Fieri is a TV superstar chef but he doesn’t deserve to be vilified by Pete Wells. New Yorkers reacted by coming out in droves to support Fieri and give him another chance.

First, the tortilla soup was excellent. Go, just to try the soup. And this might be the only place in the district that doesn’t over salt the food. Ask your waiter to pace the meal according to your own schedule. If you are in a rush, getting everything at the same time makes sense. If you prefer a leisurely meal, tell your waiter that you want your dishes served accordingly. The food is certainly far superior to its ghastly neighbors and if you insist on eating near your theatre, this is the place to go. Its marvelously fun, has great attitude and has a TV charm that blows the nearby restaurants away.

And while on Broadway (really not exactly that address…the district is called “Broadway”) go see Rock of Ages. Its light, you can sing along to all of the tunes and it too is fun. I read the scathing reviews of this fabulous musical and had a grand time, as did three of my children, ages 17, 19 and 20. After being dragged to Shakespeare for years, they appreciated the humor, the cadence and the simple pleasure of music we all recognize.

On a practical note, buy your tickets from BroadwayBox.com. They are cheaper, don’t have ridiculous surcharges, and make it extremely easy to select your own seats.

What not to miss in NYC

As a New Yorker, it is quite difficult to narrow down all the spectacular experiences; this is an attempt to make a few suggestions while visiting New York, without becoming completely overwhelmed. Its better to visit New York several times, at different seasons, to appreciate all it has to offer. Although the possibilities are endless, I am focusing on the less ordinary, atypical choices…except this first suggestion: take a bus tour on your first day to get a sense of the geography and enormity of the city.

There are many spectacular views of Manhattan at night but my two favorites are the view from the promenade in Brooklyn Heights and the Staten Island ferry heading back to Manhattan. As the ferry draws nearer to Manhattan, the city lights grow before your eyes.

After you walk the High Line, Chelsea Market is a great place to visit and eat…anything from fabulous pastries and sandwiches to lobster, oysters and sushi in one of the many little food shops and bakeries. Get the food to go and sit at one of the tables scattered throughout the market. For lunch, you can stop by Mamoun’s on MacDougal Street and have a picnic in Washington Square Park while watching the people and non-stop entertainment, including some intense chess games. Bryant Park on 42^nd Street is a lovely place to eat an outdoor lunch with plenty of tables and great views of surrounding skyscrapers, including the Empire State building and the Chrysler building.

Take a tour of the United Nations and go see a Yankee game. On a Saturday morning, wander through the Union Square farmer’s market. Take a food tour of Greenwich Village or Harlem or Chinatown. Do a behind the scene tour of Lincoln Center and go to an open rehearsal of the NY Philharmonic in Avery Fisher Hall. Tickets are $18 and you sit in the same seats that go for $90 at the evening performances. The Frick Collection is far more accessible than the Metropolitan Museum, which is quite extraordinary. And see at least one Broadway show buying tickets at half price on the day of the performance in Times Square at TKTS ticket booths.

The meatpacking district used to be the hippest place to go for great nightlife. It is no longer.  Instead visit the Lower East Side, Boerum Hill and Williamsburg in Brooklyn. If you want a genuine Italian experience, visit Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, not Little Italy. In addition to Eataly, try the recently opened food court in the basement of the Plaza Hotel. Or even high tea in the grand lobby…it continues to be a great old NYC tradition, followed by a buggy ride through Central Park at dusk.

If you want to see some serious nightlife, take a walk around the East Village at dinnertime and just try one of the obscure little joints on Avenue B or around the neighborhood. Casa Mezcal at 86 Orchard Street is a multi-level restaurant focusing on Mezcal drinks, great Oaxacan food, theatre and art with live jazz upstairs. Friday and Saturday nights are quite lively; visit every floor before deciding where to eat or drink.

Next month, I’ll tell you all about the new superstar restaurants in Brooklyn.

Bouley Restaurant

In the early 1980’s, I used to spend every weekend at the Ram’s Head Inn on Shelter Island. One Friday evening, having arrived after the restaurant’s kitchen had closed, my husband and I ordered the last of the crème brulee left in the pantry. The following evening, the amazing chef, Ray Bradley, came to our table to meet those people who ate 7 crème brulee the previous evening. And Ray began telling us about his dear friend, David Bouley, who was opening a new restaurant in Manhattan, the first to focus on local produce.

The original Bouley was a magical place, which smelled of apples and sugar. The herb infused sauces were sublime and every dish was a perfect balance of flavor and beauty. I love bread and David Bouley bakes the most fabulous bread on this planet, my personal favorite being the olive bread. We ate there often and always when my brother came to visit from California.

Later, this great chef opened Bouley Bakery around the corner and served his masterpieces in a slightly more casual atmosphere. Then came September 11^th. I heard that Bouley shut down and the staff alongside David Bouley, were cooking for the volunteers who came from all over the world. I went to help and after burning myself four times in five minutes while trying to cook salmon, the Maitre D’ sent me to serve at Ground Zero.

In your wildest dreams you could not imagine the quality of the food being transported to the “green tarp.” Salmon, chicken, varieties of vegetables, many desserts and of course his signature bread. Word got around pretty quickly that the food being served for free under the green tarp was infinitely superior to the food from the MacDonald’s stand nearby. And the thanks from the volunteers made all of us know how much his food was appreciated.

If I had to pick one favorite restaurant in New York, it is Bouley. Always rated highly in Zagats, David Bouley is a true New York hero and an outstanding chef. And, one of his sous chefs opened the only restaurant in Brooklyn to get 3 Michelin Stars…a testament to his great ability to share his expertise.

 Bouley is now located at 163 Duane Street. The entrance is on Duane Street at the corner of Hudson Street in the Mohawk Building, a soft peach colored brick building built in the 1860′s.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, 11:30am-11: 30pm.

Telephone: 212.964.2525
http://www.davidbouley.com

Checking Out of My Apartment and Into a Hotel

Living in New York City, I rarely have the opportunity to spend a night in a hotel.  The concept of a “stay-cation” seemed somewhat pointless to me, but since my daughter and I have the same birthday, I decided to give her our loft to host a party for her friends and I would spend the night at The Standard High Line.  What an amazing surprise.

The entrance, just below the High Line (probably the loveliest place to walk in Manhattan) frames a bright yellow revolving door, which enters into a romantic dark lobby with beautiful young people enthusiastically welcoming guests. The rooms on the far end have the most spectacular views, (with floor to ceiling windows facing north, south and west) which are so breathtaking, you don’t want to leave your room. But that would be a mistake.

Just downstairs is the fabulous Standard Grill, upstairs on the top floor and the roof are the most exciting bars in the area.  (I tried the Tabasco/grapefruit margarita…yum!) The ambience at the Standard Grill is vibrant and exciting. People from around the world (and New Yorkers) fill the bars and the restaurants (there is also an outdoor casual space) until late in the evening with good reason, the food is excellent and the space is dynamic. We had raw clams & oysters, caviar and oyster shooters to start followed by steak tartare and Copper River salmon.  The bittersweet chocolate mousse for dessert was divine…with colorful spatulas to serve yourself!

If you insist on staying in your room, the food on the room service menu is prepared by The Standard Grill. You can watch the ships, kayaks and the occasional swimmer pass by while drinking champagne and being comfortable in the luxurious robes. Or raid the mini bar…

The Standard High Line is located on the far west side of Manhattan in what used to be the meat market. Less than two blocks away is the fantastic Chelsea Market where you can buy a huge array of foods to take away or eat right there. Swarms of people were eating giant lobsters at the many tables scattered around the market. You can buy fresh fruits or signature Italian sandwiches, sushi, breads and all sorts of pastries and gelatos. The Brooklyn Flea has even opened a store there with vintage clothing and accessories.

Across the street is the very formal, Del Posto, absolutely one of the finest Italian restaurants in the city.  The food is served quite elegantly and their pastas are sublime! My favorite dish there is their truffle pasta which is made with flat noodles stuffed with an Italian cheese similar to Camembert.  

The neighborhood is a perfect weekend destination and The Standard High Line is the perfect place to stay!